Yealimi Noh accused of illegal 'anchoring' by golf fans during U.S. Women's Open

Yealimi Noh has been blasted by golf fans for 'anchoring' her new broomstick putter during the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills.

Noh, 23, recently admitted to experiencing a case of the dreaded 'yips'. 

The American's solution was to try something different on the greens.

The one-time LPGA winner sought the advice of her coach and they reached for a new L.A.B Golf broomstick putter. 

Things clicked immediately for Noh, who has seen an instant boost in her strokes-gained putting statistics. 

No more yips, either. 

So much so Noh assumed the early lead at the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.

She has since slipped back on the leaderboard after a tough start to the third round, but she remains in the hunt for a first major title. 

While the results are all well and good for the current World No.18 who won her first LPGA title at the Founders Cup in March, a large number of golf fans have found one potential issue with her new putting stroke. 

Is she anchoring her broomstick? 

Under a change to the rules of golf by the R&A and USGA on 1 January 2016, it is deemed illegal for any player to anchor their putter to their body. 

The anchor ban prohibits intentionally anchoring a club (or gripping hand) in contact with the body during a stroke. 

The rule change (Rule 14-1b) was part of a regular four-year cycle for rule updates, and the anchored ban remains in place today.

After GOLF posted a feature on Noh's recent success with the long putter, a number of LPGA fans took to golf social media to voice their concern.

Now it should be stated the USGA and LPGA clearly think Noh is playing within the rules given she has never  been penalised for her actions. 

Under the rules of golf for anchoring a putter, the penalty is two strokes in stroke play, and a loss of hole in match play. 

Many LPGA fans think Noh is walking a fine line. 

That's after multiple images, which you can see below, show a visible crease in Noh's top where she holds the putter with her left hand. 

Only just last week, PGA Tour pro Matti Schmid was called out for the same issue. 

Golf legend Bernhard Langer has also come under fire in recent seasons on the PGA Tour Champions.  

Check out the post below and see what you make of Noh's putting stroke: 

Here's how a number of fans have reacted: 

"No one could have predicted that anchoring your putter to your body would help keep it steady!"

"You can’t tell me she’s not anchoring that putter in this picture! C’mon!?"

"So much for the anchor ban"

"How the f*** is that not anchoring?!" 

"Yikes - not sure you could have picked a worse picture to go with this article. It appears that the putter runs comfortably past the top of her left hand and into her chest. Folds in the quarter zip appear to confirm."

What do you reckon? 

Is Noh anchoring her putter or not?

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