"F***ing cheat"; "It is a BS rule" - Fans call out Dan Bradbury for foul play during his DP World Tour win

Fans on social media have called out Dan Bradbury for foul play at the 2024 Open de France Championship. The English golfer won the DP World Tour event on Sunday, October 13, at Le Golf National, registering a one-stroke victory in the game.

However, following the match, golf journalist Matt Vincenzi pointed out a case of anchoring during the match on social media. He uploaded a video of Bradbury in which the golfer's putter was seemingly touching his body, violating Rule 10.1b. The video was later reshared by NUCLR Golf on X (formerly Twitter), with the caption:

"Is this anchoring?"

Fans quickly jumped to the comments section to share their opinions on the incident. Some fans slammed the golfer and called it cheating.

"F***ing cheat," a fan wrote.

"What an absolute fraud. Guy is brutal looking too," one more fan wrote.

Meanwhile, one fan called out the rule itself.

"It’s a BS rule. If it provided an advantage everyone would do it," another fan commented.

Another fan commented that "it seems to be anchored."

"Maybe it’s technically against his palm or thumb, but it seems to be anchored," a fan jotted.

Here are more fans reactions:

Fans' reaction (Image via X/@NUCLRGOLF)

Dan Bradbury has been impressive throughout his game at the Open de France event. He shot four rounds of 67, 66, 69, and 66 to win the DP World Tour event. Thorbjørn Olesen tied for second place with Sam Bairstow, Yannik Paul, and Jeff Winther.

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What is the Anchoring Rule that Dan Bradbury was called out for?

The Rule 10.1b in golf details the regulations about anchoring the club during a match. According to the rule, while taking a shot, the putter grip can touch the forearms but should not touch the torso, including the chest and stomach of the player. In the rule, the forearm refers to the part of the arm below the elbow joint and also includes the wrist.

The rule states:

"In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either: Directly, by holding the club or a gripping hand against any part of the body (except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm), or Indirectly, through use of an “anchor point,” by holding a forearm against any part of the body to use a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club."

Notably, there is no breach of the rule if, while taking a shot, the gripping hand or forearm "merely touches the body or clothing" without "being held against the body."

In violation of Rule 10.1b, players receive a two-stroke penalty in stroke play and lose the hole in match play format.