Spectator calls Keegan Bradley 'a cheater'
- Keegan Bradley, who shot a 67 Saturday, says a spectator called him a cheater
- Bradley anchors his putter, which might soon be banned by the USGA and R&A
- Bradley: It's very disrespectful. But it's fine with me"
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Keegan Bradley is already getting an earful.
Bradley, who at the 2011 PGA Championship became the first player to win a major when anchoring the putter, is among those who will have to find a new putting stroke if a proposed ban on anchoring by the USGA and R&A is etched into the Rules of Golf. If it is, the rule won't go into effect until 2016. Until then, players of all stripes can continue to anchor the putter.
That doesn't sit well with some fans.
"I had some guy here call me a cheater on the last hole, which was no fun," Bradley said after he shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday at Sherwood Country Club to move within two shots of leader Graeme McDowell heading into Sunday's final round of the World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual. "But I look forward to hopefully making everything (Sunday) with that belly putter and hopefully it'll get a little louder."
Bradley, who anchors the putter to his stomach, credited a putting tip from his caddie, Steve "Pepsi" Hale, for his improved performance on the greens in the third round.
"He told me to move the ball position up a little bit in my stance," Bradley said.
But no one will tell Bradley when to switch putters. He said he will make the switch to a non-anchored putter when he feels comfortable. Until then, he'll keep sticking the butt end of the handle into his stomach and put up with any hecklers.
"It's very disrespectful. But it's fine with me," Bradley said. "I've got to try to look at it as motivation to help me try to win this tournament.
" … I've never heard anything negative (before this week). Today I heard a few things, but I also heard way more positives than negatives. (People have said) don't worry about it, you'll make putts with that short putter. But there's always going to be people that are negative. That's fine with me."