Adam Scott has survived the scrutiny of rival Sergio Garcia after reintroducing the broomstick putter for the first time since last year's anchoring ban.
The former Masters champion birdied his final two holes to finish one-under on day one of the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
He was analysed throughout by playing partner Garcia, who admitted he was keeping an eye on Scott's technique after reforms were introduced prohibiting the long putter from touching the chest.
"I looked at him throughout the whole day and you could see that he was making sure he had it away from his chest," Garcia said.
"We talked about it and he's very cautious to make sure he's holding it the way you should hold it, make sure he doesn't anchor it at any time."
Scott had 30 putts for the day, including a number of long-range efforts to stay in the mix, five strokes adrift of joint leaders Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland.
Scott has reverted to the broomstick following the putting stats Bernhard Langer and Scott McCarron have enjoyed as they dominate the Champions Tour this year.
Scott said it felt "really good" to dust it off.
"I had a couple of putts that I would have liked to make from 15 feet or so that just slipped by but other than that it was really solid," he said.
It will be a move closely followed in the golfing world.
"On the putting green we were joking about it a bit," Garcia said of his round one playing partner.
"But we know Scotty - he's a great gentleman and a great boy and is never going to do anything that shouldn't be done."
When pressed, Garcia said he didn't expect many more to follow Scott's choice.
"It's not easy to use it without anchoring. Some guys might have the nerve and touch to do it but it's not easy," the world No.11 said.
Scott famously used a long-handled putter when he won the 2013 Masters.
He switched to a short putter before a subsequent ban on anchored putting strokes was enforced on January 1 last year, while Langer and McCarron have continued to use them by holding the handle clear of their chests.
