The governing bodies of golf have proposed a rule change that would restrict the way in which long putters are used, a move that would ban the stroke used by the winners of three of the last five major championships.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association propose to ban the anchoring of the club to the body, not the long putters themselves, in a new rule that would take effect in 2016. . . .

The issue has divided golfers. Some, like Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els, have won majors with the putters. The ban pleases one of the sport’s biggest names, though. “I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves,” Tiger Woods said Tuesday. “And having it as a fixed point, as I was saying all year, is something that’s not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same."