By Mark Lamport-Stokes

(Reuters) – The royal and ancient game of golf, renowned for its etiquette and self-imposed penalties, has undergone many changes to the rules over its 600-year history but few issues have triggered as much debate as the proposal to outlaw the anchoring of putters.

In a genteel sport where an inadvertent cough on a downswing can create controversy, the announcement by golf’s rule-makers on Tuesday that anchoring would be banned from 2016 has sparked fiery, impassioned division.

May 22 (Reuters) – The royal and ancient game of golf, renowned for its etiquette and self-imposed penalties, has undergone many changes to the rules over its 600-year history but few issues have triggered as much debate as the proposal to outlaw the anchoring of putters.

In a genteel sport where an inadvertent cough on a downswing can create controversy, the announcement by golf’s rule-makers on Tuesday that anchoring would be banned from 2016 has sparked fiery, impassioned division.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Within the next 24 hours, professional and amateur golfers will likely know whether or not they will be permitted to use long putters anchored to any part of their body from 2016 onwards.

The game’s rulemakers are widely expected to announce the controversial proposed ban on the anchoring technique when they hold simultaneous news conferences on Tuesday, at Far Hills in New Jersey and at Virginia Water in Surrey, England.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A year ago, the unfancied Los Angeles Kings delivered their own unforgettable Cinderella story as they beat the odds en route to claiming the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

They snuck into the National Hockey League’s postseason as an eighth seed and went on to beat the Western Conference’s top three teams before defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Golf’s governing bodies are widely expected to announce whether they will go ahead with a controversial proposed ban on players anchoring putters to their body when they hold simultaneous news conferences next week.

The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient (R&A) said in statements on Friday they would “announce final action on proposed changes to the rules of golf” on Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles fought back from a goal down with less than two minutes to play to stun the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in a frenzied finish to Game Two of their Western Conference semi-finals series on Thursday.

With the Kings on a five-on-three powerplay, captain Dustin Brown tied the score with a backhand shot at 18:17 in the third period to spark thunderous roars from a sellout crowd of 18,527 at Staples Center.

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

(Reuters) – Britain’s former world number two Colin Montgomerie repeatedly resisted the lure of the PGA Tour during his prime but now says he intends to compete full-time in the United States on the Champions Tour for players aged over 50.

The Scotsman, who won a record eight order of merit titles on the European Tour between 1993 and 2005, will be eligible for the senior circuit after his 50th birthday on June 23.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – For the Los Angeles Kings, it all came down to resilience and winning the final period as they faced the daunting prospect of trailing the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

In front of a packed house at Staples Center, the Stanley Cup champions were stunned by two early Blues goals in Monday’s Game Four and despite clawing their way back to 2-2, they again fell behind by the second intermission.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Redemption was sweet for Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick as he rebounded from what he assessed as two sub-par performances with a flawless display against the St. Louis Blues.

The inspirational Quick made 30 saves to complete the fifth playoff shutout of his career and lead the Stanley Cup champions to a gritty 1-0 win in Saturday’s Game Three of the National Hockey League playoffs that followed successive losses in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The 2014 Ryder Cup may be a distant 16 months away but United States captain Tom Watson has already identified three winning qualities he needs in his 12-man team to take on holders Europe in Scotland.

Above all, Watson wants his players to have a ‘never-say-die’ attitude, the ability to thrive under pressure and also to cope well in adverse weather conditions.