A recent interview with Jordan Spieth shows him struggling to respond to the PGA Tour's issue with non-traditional putting methods.

Spieth's reactions are generating strong emotions in the debate between traditionalists and modernists.

The main issue in the debate was the so-called "broomstick" putter and whether players who use them violate the anchor clause. Spieth is known to be very traditional and typically does not share his opinion on the issue.

When discussing the stroke Bhatia was employing, Jordan Spieth struggled to express his thoughts on the controversial anchor move.

"I would like the putter to be the shortest club in your bag," he said.

While being interviewed during the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams at the TPC Sawgrass, Spieth was asked to share his opinion on Bhatia's achievements after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Adams, the show's host, went on to ask if long putters should even be legal in professional golf.

"It uses your hands more, which makes you have to be more kind of athletic," he said.

Spieth was the first to concede that using a long putter is, indeed, difficult. He stated that if the methodology were considered an "easy button" to success, every player on tour would be using it.

The Skill Behind the Broomstick Stroke

Whereas many fans see the long putter as simply a way to get around the yips, he disputes that by saying it is a skill.

"There is a skill to it," he said, defending the effort that Bhatia has put in.

As he put it, while it is illegal to anchor against the sternum, Bhatia's arm bar, or broomstick type, is perfectly legal. Spieth made it clear that he could "easily go do that" if he thought it would actually help him.

Acknowledging that Bhatia has used that particular technique for a long time, the former World Number 1, Spieth, explained that it is the player's consistency in their technique that legitimizes the performance they can achieve under those circumstances.

Spieth thinks that it is better for the game if players have to "deal with the stuff that comes up" with a regular club. Still, he respects Bhatia's continued success with the putter.

Both players are playing the 2026 Players Championship, which has a close leaderboard after the first round was delayed by weather. As it stands, Akshay Bhatia is tied for 34th with a 1-under par, while Jordan Spieth is tied at T20 with a 3-under par.

Who do you think is going to win? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Kalp Thaker