Jordan Spieth comments on the “anchoring” controversy following Akshay Bhatia’s dispute.

Jordan Spieth, one of the most renowned golfers today, did not shy away from commenting on the heated controversy surrounding the “anchoring” technique that emerged following Akshay Bhatia’s victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 24-year-old rising star captured his third title on the PGA Tour by defeating Daniel Berger in an exciting playoff. However, his victory was soon overshadowed by questions regarding his putting technique, which involved the use of a 50-inch broomstick putter, leading to heated debates on social media about the compliance of his practices with the rules of golf.

During an appearance on Kay Adams’ Up & Adams show, Spieth addressed the issue directly and clearly. “According to the rules, you cannot anchor,” he stated. “Anchoring means that the putter would be touching your sternum, at the top. You can use the arm-bar technique now, but you cannot anchor against your torso.” These statements from Spieth, a three-time major champion, highlight the complexity of golf’s rules and the fine line between permitted technique and illegal practice.

The discussion did not stop there. Adams questioned whether broomstick putters should, in fact, be allowed, to which Spieth responded that, although the technique requires skill, many players would be inclined to use it if it guaranteed better results. “There is a skill involved, and if it were so easy to do and made everyone better, everyone would be doing it,” Spieth said. He expressed a desire for the putter to be the shortest club in the bag, as that would require more skill and hand usage.

Akshay Bhatia, for his part, did not remain silent in the face of criticism. He took to social media to clarify the situation, stating that his putter does not touch his chest during the motion. “I’m not anchoring. Literally 2 inches from my chest haha,” Bhatia posted, thus defending his technique and refuting the allegations surrounding it.

The young golfer now has the task of maintaining his form on the greens during the Players Championship, where he will compete alongside stars like Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau. Meanwhile, Spieth is scheduled to start his round earlier, at 8:40 in the morning, with Sahith Theegala and Rickie Fowler.

Bhatia’s strategic shift to the broomstick putter is not just a personal choice, but a decision that has been carefully considered. He made the transition at the end of 2023 after struggling on the greens during the early years of his career. Conversations with experienced players like Lucas Glover helped him make this decision. “I made a promise to myself that I would try this putter for at least six months, regardless of the results, and so far my statistics have skyrocketed,” Bhatia commented during his participation in the 2024 Masters.

The numbers speak for themselves. In the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, Bhatia finished in 183rd place in strokes gained putting, but after his change, he saw his performance improve drastically, positioning himself among the top 40 in putting statistics in 2024 and 2025, and currently holding the 12th position in this category. During his victory at Bay Hill, he gained nearly 16.3 strokes on and around the greens, a performance that stands out as the best by a PGA Tour winner in the ShotLink era, which dates back to 1983.

The use of the broomstick putter is not a novelty in the world of golf, and Bhatia is not the only one to face criticism for this choice. Established players like Adam Scott and Bernhard Langer have also faced similar scrutiny. However, the immediate and positive impact Bhatia has had on his game, coupled with his youth, makes his story resonate even more among critics and fans, raising questions about the evolution and acceptance of modern techniques in golf.