Bernhard Langer upset by critics of putting technique

Bernhard Langer has again hit back at critics of his putting technique and suggested there is a vendetta against players still using a long putter.

Anchored putting was outlawed in January 2016, but Langer has found a way to continue using his famous broomhandled putter without anchoring his top hand to his chest.

Critics believe the German is pushing the boundaries of legality on the greens, but Langer insisted he is acting within the rules and admitted the negative comments questioning his integrity had been "really hurtful".

Ahead of this week's Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl, where he romped to a record-shattering 13-shot win three years ago, Langer said: "I personally don't understand it because I'm a man of integrity and the last thing I want to do is break rules and be known as cheating.

"I know when I'm anchoring and when I'm not anchoring because I control my hand. It goes sideways, you can see it. So when my knuckle is away from the body, I'm not anchoring or touching any part of my body and I know I'm within the rules.

"What's even stranger is that I have conferred with USGA rules officials and with Champions Tour officials on a regular basis. I told them what I'm doing, and I practised that way and they have wholeheartedly told me, 'you're within the rules, you're not breaking any rule and you can continue doing this'.

"And then you have a few people that come up on whatever it is, Twitter or somewhere else, and questioning my integrity, which is really hurtful. But I can't stop people talking, whatever they are talking or reporting or whatever. I can only control what I'm doing. I'm going to play golf within the rules and do the best I can."

Asked if the description of the ruling was too vague, he replied: "I don't think so. The rule is actually very simple, you can't anchor and I'm not anchoring. I haven't anchored since January 2016, that's all I can say to that.

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"I'm just disappointed in some of the people, and I don't need to mention names, because we're all in the game of golf, we all make a living in the game of golf and we should be talking about good stuff and positive things, and not, you know, be negative.

"And as I've already explained, I know I'm within the rules. Otherwise, you know, it would be a different story. But I can feel when I touch my body and when I don't touch my body. All of you can, and it's that simple to me.

"But it's not just me, there are other players that are using the long putter and that are having a similar method. But you know, it's human to be jealous; let's put it that way. If I was No 180 on the Money List, I don't think anybody would be talking about it.

"But I've been No 1 the last few years on a regular basis, and now Scott McCarron has a lot of success, as well. We're actually No 1 and 2 on the Champions Tour. So you're going to have people being jealous or whatever you want to call it, I don't know."