By mustang6560 on 2/27/13

Last December, in the wake of the proposed ban on anchored putting announcement, Keegan Bradley said he was called a "cheater" by fans during the third round of the World Challenge.

In response to the alleged fan abuse, the USGA issued a statement condemning the fan behavior, however, it's done little to stop further taunting. In his pre-Honda Classic press conference, Keegan Bradley told reporters that more and more fans, and even some in the media, are now calling him and his fellow anchorers "cheaters".

"Commissioner Finchem and the PGA Tour have always had their players' backs, no matter how big or small the group is," Bradley said. "Two of the biggest golf organizations, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America have said that they don't agree with the USGA (and R&A). If they are really taking this comment period seriously, I think they really need to look at what's been said by both those organizations.

" ... When I won the PGA in 2011 with a belly putter, I did my press conference and I didn't get asked one question about it.

" ... I'm being called a cheater more than ever by fans, by some writers — none of your guys — and it's really tough. A lot of it's on Twitter, which is ridiculous, anyways, I know. I do read it and I shouldn't. I can't imagine how people can say that to me or to anybody out here. It's been really difficult, and I'm sick of it to be honest. I'm ready to be over it. I realize that this is going to be an issue now for the next couple years, at least. I hope the USGA thought about us players before they did this, because it's been really difficult on me and I know it's been really difficult on some other players, too."

" ... It's a mess. It's going to be a mess."

If Keegan is in fact telling the truth about the alleged fan abuse — and I have no reason not to believe him — then it's pathetic. If you're at a PGA Tour event and you hear a fan yell "cheater" at Keegan or any anchored putter'er, do me a favor and report it to the appropriate authority. To call someone a cheater in golf — a game in which one's moral compass is of the utmost importance — is a cardinal sin and it shouldn't be tolerate.


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