Ernie Els and Keegan Bradley vow to fight belly-putter ban "To say they will ban this after we've won majors is unbelievable," Bradley said. It's the way we've practised and made our living. Some players have put in 15 to 20 years of practice and all of a sudden they're going to make up a rule. That's harsh. Bradley is concerned the rule-change will be felt across the game. "It would be a shame for the amateur player not to be able to use a club that helps them enjoy the game better," he said. The USGA and R&A should be trying to attract people to the game rather than pushing them away. Then there is the legacy for the belly-putters, who, Bradley believes, would see their victories demeaned. "It would be a very sad thing for people to look back and see our achievements with a belly putter and think, "Oh, that shouldn't even count,"" Bradley said. The debate has raged for years about the advantages and disadvantages of wielding the huge wand. Bradley points out that only one of the top 20 players on the PGA Tour's "strokes gained in putting" chart uses an unconventional putter. "Everyone talks about the advantages of using a long putter, but there's disadvantages," he said. There's more distance control with a short putter; longer putts are much easier. Els, meanwhile, sought to debunk the myth over the "magical qualities" of the implement. "It's not just about tucking it into your belly and you start holing putts," he said. A lot of work has to go into it to perfect your style. You still feel the nerves and you can still miss. The two ruling bodies have remained tight-lipped on the issue, saying only that the review continues. But two weeks ago, USGA officials met with four of the PGA Tour's professionals - including the Ryder Cup captain Davis Love - to outline the details of the prospective ban. Els still holds out a little hope they can convince the rule-makers to reassess. "This can become something they have to address again," he said. With all the pressure from players and media maybe they can further consider the issue.