A player on the DP World Tour may have just used one of the wildest putting techniques ever seen on a professional golf tour, and golf fans aren’t sold on it. 

Sven Maurits, a 35-year-old from the Netherlands, is playing in the DP World Tour’s KLM Open this week after getting in under one of the national spots. 

It’s his first start on the DP World Tour this year, and he shot a 1-over par 73 during Thursday’s first round at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. 

But it was what happened on the 17th hole that caught the attention of golf viewers, and subsequently confused golf fans online. 

During the round Thursday, the DP World Tour posted a clip of Maurits’ putting stroke, which was unusual, to say the least. 

Maurits, the 2188 ranked player in the world, first gripped the putter with his left hand. His right arm is then bent 90 degrees, with that hand resting on his left arm. 

The top of the putter shaft was then resting on the wrist of his right arm. 

Here’s the clip:

“Just when you think you’ve seen everything”

Sven Maurits showcases his new putting stroke #KLMOpen pic.twitter.com/4tqyQNuEIr

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 25, 2023

After the round, Maurits revealed that his unusual technique was actually inspired by Thomas Bjorn. 

He told the DP World Tour:

“I’ve been using this grip for four years now.

“Actually I saw Thomas Bjørn doing it, and I was still struggling with the yips so I tried everything possible.

“I was playing with some guys and I said ‘Did you see him on the TV putting?’ So I was imitating it and they went in all the time so I kept the grip.

“It was better so it doesn’t matter how it looks. If it works, it works.”

Inspired by @thomasbjorngolf

Sven Maurits explains his putting grip and battles with the putting yips.#KLMOpen pic.twitter.com/7MwHKYZG5h

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 25, 2023

However, some online golf fans felt that Maurits’ putting stroke was too similar to that of anchoring, which has resulted in players like Bernhard Langer being accused of “cheating” in the past. 

The cheating by @BernhardLanger6 is laughable at this point..rules officials on the @ChampionsTour need to do their job… 14-1b anchor point created by the forearm …this is from today… @NoLayingUp @TronCarterNLU @chambleebrandel @AlanShipnuck @MintzGolf @Daniel_Rapaport pic.twitter.com/hl9K42Zn3J

— TrotGolfer (@Trot_Golfer) February 19, 2023

Here are some of the comments from the Maurits video posted by the DP World Tour:

“That’s getting banned haha”

“If I try this out on the putting green they’d probably kick me off the course”

“Surely this is anchoring??”

“This is anchoring innovation”

“Is that legal? surely that would class as anchoring?”

“That has to be considered anchoring the club!”

“If that’s not anchoring nothing is”

Take me to more news!

Lead Image: DP World Tour