Haas, Langer see no need for ban

Bill Haas went against the trend with long putters. He used to use a belly putter then went back to a shorter club. A recent study shows more players are switching to the long-handled versions. But with golf's governing bodies proposing a new rule to restrict the way belly and broom-handle putters are used, Haas says the regulations should not be changed. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the US Golf Association proposed the rule -- to come into effect in 2016 -- that players could not anchor the putters against their body during the stroke. Haas says of the current long putter use, ''I don't think it changes the game.'' Bernhard Langer says ''if there is anything illegal about it, why did they not stop it right away?''