Pro Calls for Golf Rule Change After Schmid Sparks PGA Tour Debate
English golfer Eddie Pepperell has suggested a rule change in response to controversy surrounding Matti Schmid’s putting technique during the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Schmid, a 27-year-old from Germany, surged into contention over the weekend in pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory. Although he ultimately fell short, finishing behind winner Ben Griffin, Schmid’s standout performance on the greens sparked heated debate among fans.
Using a broomstick putter, Schmid topped the Strokes Gained: Putting stat, gaining over eight strokes on the field. However, some viewers accused him of “anchoring”—an illegal practice where the putter makes contact with the body for added stability. The debate centered on whether Schmid’s knuckles were pressed against his chest or simply brushing his shirt.
This isn’t the first time anchoring allegations have surfaced, and Pepperell believes it’s time for a change. Speaking on The Chipping Forecast podcast, he proposed a straightforward solution: “Insist on the putter being the shortest club in the bag.”
A DP World Tour referee echoed Pepperell’s concerns in a conversation with BBC Sport’s Iain Carter, noting the difficulty in enforcing current anchoring rules. “It’s super difficult to enforce,” the referee said. “You have to go with the integrity of the players. It’s your word against theirs.”
Despite the challenges, the referee acknowledged some players have voluntarily switched to shorter putters after being warned they were close to crossing the line.
Several notable players currently use long putters, including former Masters champion Adam Scott, who games a L.A.B. OZ.1 Proto. Bernhard Langer, another high-profile user, has always maintained he complies with the rules, stating, “The last thing I want to do is break rules and be known as cheating.”
Other pros like Akshay Bhatia and Lucas Glover have also made the switch to broomstick putters, with Bhatia showing improved performance and Glover overcoming past putting struggles.
Glover, while never accused of anchoring himself, recently stirred controversy by alleging some PGA Tour players cheat driver testing protocols. On his SiriusXM radio show, Glover claimed that certain pros deliberately submit backup drivers for testing instead of their actual gamers.
His comments come after both Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler revealed their drivers failed testing during the 2025 PGA Championship, with McIlroy’s deemed too “springy” by USGA officials.
Glover didn’t hold back: “Most guys don’t give them their real driver anyway. They give them their backup just in case. And I know a lot of guys who keep two drivers in the bag just for that reason.”
As debates over equipment rules continue, Pepperell’s call for change may reignite discussions at the highest levels of the game.
