Rumford at ease with short putter

Brett Rumford and Adam Scott will be hoping to show they've got no problem with the short putter at this week's Australian Masters.

While all eyes will be on how two-time champion Adam Scott adapts to the short putter at the Australian Masters at Huntingdale, European Tour veteran Brett Rumford says his transition didn't cause any angst.

From January 1 next year the anchoring of putters to any part of the body will be banned and Scott and Rumford are among those shelving the broomstick.

Rumford had no qualms about the switch, saying he backed himself to perform with the shorter club.

This will be his fourth tournament in succession using the traditional putter.

"I haven't made any fuss about it, I've always putted well with the short one," the 38-year-old West Australian said.

"Mentally there's no real difference to me. I'll just go out and putt with the short one and that's it for me."

Rumford, who had won five times on the European Tour, said he felt his time using the long putter had helped his putting, and he planned to return to it in practice when he needed to sharpen his game.

"I actually feel as though I've learnt a lot; I probably feel as though I'm five years ahead in learning what I've learnt from using the long putter," he said.

"I've learnt a lot using the long that's benefitted the short putter.

"I think I probably still every now and again will go back to the broomstick to practise, recalculate and just get my body right."

Scott, who will start favourite to claim his third crown after winning in 2012 and 2013, said he'd been happy with his form since making the switch.

But after five years using the broomstick he felt it would take time until he was completely comfortable.

His last win with the short putter was the 2010 Singapore Open however most recently he finished second at the US PGA Tour's CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, where he shot 25-under.


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Source: AAP



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