Australian PGA to ban the use of broomstick putters from 2016

The Professional Golfers Association of Australia has confirmed it will ban the use of broomstick putters at its sanctioned tournaments from 2016 to move in line with other international tours.

The new rule will ban players from anchoring a club directly, or by use of an anchor point, against any part of the body, effectively banning belly and chest putting.

The anchored stroke has been in the spotlight since being used by a series of players to win major championships, with Australian Adam Scott the latest to use the club to claim the Masters title at Augusta in April.

PGA of Australia chief Brian Thorburn said his organisation wanted to avoid a situation in which professional golfers would have to compete under different conditions on different international tours.

"The implementation of this rule will inevitably affect a number of our professionals who compete both at home and abroad, and it's important they now have clarity and time to adapt," Thorburn said in a statement.

"Throughout this process our greatest priority was to ensure consistency so that when our professionals, and of course visiting internationals, play in Australia they will be competing under the same conditions adopted across all the world's top tours."

Golf's main ruling bodies, including the Royal & Ancient and US Golf Association, have previously announced that broomstick-style putters would be outlawed from the start of 2016.