( CNN ) -- The European Tour confirmed its support for a ban on belly putters Monday -- potentially placing it at odds with its rival U.S. PGA Tour -- who are opposed to the new rule change which is due to come into force in 2016 . It was responding to a 90-day consultation , which was launched by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club ( R & A ) and the United States Golf Association ( USGA ) after the sport 's governing bodies announced their intention to outlaw the practice of putting with a club anchored to a player 's stomach . At the end of last month , the PGA Tour and the PGA of America went public with their opposition to the proposals in their response to the consultation . The statement from the European Tour read : `` The European Tour has confirmed its support for the R & A and the USGA and their proposal for rule 14-1b - the prohibition of anchoring any club when making a stroke under the Rules of Golf . '' But chief executive George O'Grady revealed that there had been opposition to the change among the 15-strong members of its Tournament Committee . `` Our members support the unique role played by the governing bodies in formulating the Rules of Golf . '' he said . `` Additionally , virtually all of our Tournament Committee and player representatives support the proposed rule even though they are aware , and have taken into account , the fact that some members and especially our senior members use the anchored method . '' O'Grady 's PGA Tour counterpart Tim Finchem said last week that it was `` not in the best interests '' of golf for the proposed change to be implemented . He added : `` In the absence of data or any basis to conclude that there is a competitive advantage to be gained by using anchoring , and given the amount of time that anchoring has been in the game , that there was no overriding reason to go down that road . '' While supporting the ban , O'Grady said he respected the PGA Tour 's stance . `` We understand the points put forward by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America and respect and sympathize with their views , which are based on their experience and the evidence before them , and have been expressed with great concern for the game . `` The whole issue has received far greater focus and comment in the United States than in the rest of the world , perhaps because of the numbers of their golfers using the anchored method , and the set up in general terms of their golf courses and the firmness and speed of their greens . '' The issue of the use of long-handled belly putters was drawn into sharp focus by the success of golfers such as American Keegan Bradley , the first to win a major using the technique , and veteran South African Ernie Els , who claimed the British Open last year after switching to the method . The top two golfers in the world , Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods , have both spoken in favor of a ban . If the respective major tours were to go their own way it could lead to a situation where players could use different putters in events on either side of the Atlantic . It would not be the first time there was a divergence in rules on equipment . European Tour events , including the British Open , used a smaller diameter ball of 1.62 inches against the bigger 1.68 inches diameter ball adopted in the United States , until it was outlawed by the R & A in 1974 , bringing about eventual worldwide standardization . An added complication in the belly putter row is the support of the USGA for the proposed change , meaning the U.S. Open , which it runs , would join the British Open , promoted by the R & A , in outlawing anchoring . But the U.S. PGA Championship , which comes under the auspices of the PGA Tour , would allow it .
European Tour announces ban on long - handled belly putters . Rule change from 2016 to outlaw method of anchoring putter to the stomach . U.S. PGA Tour opposes ban as does Japan or America . Star players such as Bill Bradley and Ernie El use the belly putter .