St Leon-Rot, May 21: Els said he had spoken to Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the ruling body in Europe, only this week about the issue. "I've not given up hope the belly-putter will be banned," said Els. "The R and A and the USGA (United States Golf Association) are looking at it right now." Els has tried a new approach with his ailing putting this week by looking at "striking the ball 100 percent instead of trying to hit the perfect putt all the time".

But Immelman was praised his own move to the belly-putter, a switch he made after watching world number two Singh.
"I came back to the British Masters and started messing around with the belly-putter after being inspired by Vijay at New Orleans, holing all those putts down the stretch" he said.

Bureau Report