Search for a golf course, city, state or zip code:

Grooves Controversy Rears Ugly Head

After 36 holes were played in the Farmers Insurance Open, controversy erupted when Phil Mickelson, playing in his first tournament of the season, was criticized by fellow pro Scott McCarron for using an old Ping Eye2 wedge with square grooves.

The Mickelson-McCarron story heated up late Friday afternoon when McCarron, after hearing of Mickelson's use of the 20-year-old wedge, to the San Francisco Chronicle, said, "It's cheating, and I'm appalled Phil has put it in play."

Another critic was Australia's Robert Allenby, who commented: "I just believe that even if they are legal, you still shouldn't be using them. Just because someone has a couple sitting in their garage somewhere or they've got them off eBay or whatever, I just don't think that's the integrity of the game. I think 'cheating' is not the right word to use, but it's definitely an advantage."

When told Mickelson had one in his bag this week in San Diego, Allenby - who got into hot water at last year's Presidents Cup matches after criticizing the late-night partying of American opponent Anthony Kim, said, "Oh, he's using one this week? Well, I have no comment there. I'll be a good boy."

Hunter Mahan (139) and John Daly, who missed the weekend cut of 2-under 142 after shooting rounds of 79 and 71, also used the old wedges that don't conform to the USGA's new rules on grooves. But the clubs were grandfathered in in 1990 as part of a settlement of a lawsuit Ping had filed against the USGA.

On Wednesday, Mickelson, who's been critical of golf's decision to outlaw grooves, feeling the move unnecessarily costs manufacturers millions of dollars, defended his use of the Ping club, which he said was in his garage from his college days in Arizona, where the company is based. "I feel like the Eye2 grooves are not legal, or don't conform, but they are approved for play," he said.

"And after talking about it to the tour and the USGA, the only thing that matters is, 'Are they approved for play?' So I don't feel that there's any problem if I were to play those clubs or if anybody else were. All that matters is that it is OK under the Rules of Golf."

After his round Friday, Mickelson repeated those thoughts and specifically replied to McCarron's remarks. "Well, I agree that the rule - it's a terrible rule; to change something that has this kind of loophole is nuts. But it's not up to me or any other player to interpret what the interpretation of the rule is or the spirit of the rule. I understand black and white. And I think that myself or any other player is allowed to play those clubs because they're approved. End of story.

"Again, I totally agree with them. I think it's a ridiculous rule. But whoever wants to play them, they're approved. And like I said before, we have two things going on. We have legal and conforming grooves, and we have approved for play, and I have sent in legal grooves that have been not approved, and these grooves in my opinion are, just like Scott felt, are non-conforming grooves, but they are approved. And as a player when you ask the PGA Tour or the USGA or whatever, all that matters is if they're approved."

When asked about the "cheating" allegations, Mickelson said: "Yeah, I think rather than answer that directly, I think what he's saying is the rule is a terrible rule, and I agree with them. I'm just as upset. The difference is I've been talking with Dick Rugge of the USGA and talking to the commissioner and explaining this behind closed doors, how ridiculous all this is. I don't agree with the way he carried on about it, but that's his choice."

('’)