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Casey, Dredge tied for lead at Qatar Masters

DOHA, Qatar (AP)—Paul Casey shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to share the leadwith Bradley Dredge after the third round of the Qatar Masters.

The 32-year-old Casey arrived in Doha still feeling the effects of alingering rib muscle injury and having missed the cut in each of his threeprevious appearances at the tournament. But he made seven birdies to sit tiedwith Dredge (70) with a 10-under total of 206.

“I am still only 95 percent fit with the rib and had no reason to beconfident arriving here given my previous record on this course,” Casey said.“But I am playing well now on a tough course where you cannot afford to makemistakes.”

Dredge is looking for his first title since the 2006 European Masters, andis hoping to make an early case for inclusion on the European Ryder Cup team.

“Coming from Wales and with the Ryder Cup being played at Celtic Manor,making the team is my big goal for this year,” Dredge said. “There are a lotof world ranking points available this week and I could do with them. I will belooking for a big finish.”

The duo will be chased by Lee Westwood in the final round, after theEnglishman shot a 70 to stay one shot off the lead—despite cracking the headof his driver on the 11th tee. Under the rules, he was not allowed to have areplacement brought to him on the course.

“The shaft felt soft,” Westwood said about the spare driver in his bag.“It affected my rhythm and it happened at a critical stage of the round. If Icould have made a couple of birdies over the closing holes I might have had atwo shot lead.”

Brett Rumford, who had the overnight lead, only managed a 73 to sit threeshots back. He started the day by holing a 6-foot putt for birdie, then droppedtwo shots on his next five holes and kept struggling on the greens.

Robert Karlsson of Sweden is also in a tie for fourth, while England’sOliver Wilson (72) and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros (68) are another shot back.

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A weekend of wedges at Torrey Pines

SAN DIEGO (AP)—A photographer for a major magazine wanted to take a picture ofthe Ping-Eye 2 wedge in Phil Mickelson’s bag, and the world’s No. 2 player hadno problem with that.

Could he take the wedge out of the bag and have Mickelson pose with it?

That’s where Lefty drew the line.

Mickelson has never backed away from controversy, and he knew his decisionto use the wedge might cause a stir. He just didn’t want this to dominate newsof his debut on the PGA Tour, even though it has done just that.

Golf gets its first taste of network coverage on Saturday in the FarmersInsurance Open at Torrey Pines, and this was not how the PGA Tour would havedrawn it up. First of all, Tiger Woods is not playing for the second straightyear. That much was fairly certain when Woods announced Dec. 11 an indefinitebreak while he deals with the fallout from his extramarital affairs.

Mickelson would be a compelling story, though, especially coming off astrong finish last year and hope this might be his best year yet. Instead, talkhas shifted to words like “square grooves” and “lawsuit settlement” and theworst one of all—“cheating.”

The play at Torrey Pines—D.A. Points and Ryuji Imada were tied for thelead at 11-under 133—was largely ignored Friday thanks to Scott McCarron. Hewas quoted in The San Francisco Chronicle as saying about Mickelson using thePing wedge, “It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play.”

It’s a complicated issue except for the verdict: The wedges have beenapproved.

“End of story,” Mickelson said after his 67 left him only four shotsbehind.

The USGA adopted new rules this year that irons (from about 5-iron throughwedges) no longer can have square grooves, which are deeper and generate morespin. They must be replaced by V-grooves, with the idea of putting more premiumon accuracy.

But there was one catch. Ping sued the USGA 20 years ago. Under thesettlement, the USGA agreed that Ping-Eye 2 clubs would be legal as long as theywere made before April 1, 1990. That takes precedence over the new regulationfor V-grooves.

Fact: Mickelson (and at least three other players) is using a wedge with agroove pattern that no longer is allowed.

Fact: Mickelson is using a wedge that is approved by the USGA.

Cheating?

“Anyone using those wedges is really bending the rules,” McCarron saidFriday. Twice asked about the word “cheating,” he shifted to “bending therules,” although he made it clear he feels just as strongly.

McCarron isn’t alone. Robert Allenby is opposed to the Ping wedge for thesame reason, that while it doesn’t violate the law, it violates the intent orthe spirit of the law.

“Cheating is not the word to use,” Allenby said. “But it’s definitely anadvantage.”

Mickelson is standing his ground. He has been battling with the USGA formonths over a groove regulation he calls “ridiculous,” and he lectured USGAsenior technical director Dick Rugge on the putting green at The Barclays.Mickelson said he submitted wedges that met the new specifications and the USGAdid not approve them. But it does approve of a wedge with square grooves, allbecause of a 20-year-old lawsuit settlement.

“All my clubs are approved for play, and I take that very seriously not toviolate any rule,” Mickelson said. “It’s not my job or the job of any of theplayers to try to interpret the spirit of the rule or the intent. I understandapproved or not approved. I didn’t make this rule. I don’t agree with the rule.But I’m abiding by it.”

The PGA Tour said it was aware this debate over Ping wedges could arise thisyear—strange, because Mickelson had no idea until he read that John Daly andDean Wilson were using the wedge at the Sony Open two weeks ago. Mickelson wentto his garage and found a wedge that he first used as a freshman in college.

Remember, these clubs are 20 years old. Some players change wedges every sixweeks to keep the grooves fresh.

Mickelson said one shot Thursday with his Ping wedge released some 10 feetbeyond the hole. He believes using his regular Callaway wedge would have allowedhim to stop it quicker.

“That’s beside the point,” McCarron said. “They made this rule, we’re allabiding by it. Obviously, it makes a difference. You take a guy like PhilMickelson who does a lot of testing, he’s under contract with another companyand he plays that wedge. To me, that says it makes a lot of difference.”

This could get messy. And with the tour already missing its biggest star,this is the last thing it needs.

What irritates Mickelson is that he spent most of his interview talkingabout a wedge that might not even make a big difference.

“I don’t appreciate the governing bodies putting me or any other player inthis position, calling into question our integrity over a rule that they made, aclub that they approved,” he said. “Don’t put the blame on a player. Put theblame on the governing body.”

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Gates leads by three, looks to win in his debut (PGATOUR.com)

D.J. Brigman is one shot off the lead after the first round in New Zealand.

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand—Nationwide Tour rookie Robert Gates showed no signs of pressure as the 24-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday to up his lead in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open to three shots after three rounds.

Andrew Dodt of Australia, who was Thursday's co-leader with Gates and New Zealand's David Smail, is in second position after posting a 70.

A shot back of Dodt in third place is fellow Aussie Michael Curtain, who shot 68 to move three spots up the leaderboard.

Making his first Nationwide Tour start, Gates was unflappable, recording six birdies and two bogeys. After three trips around the 7,243-yard The Hills golf course, he has an eagle, 19 birdies and only five bogeys.

"This is my first event, and I didn't know what to expect," Gates said. "I'm playing great. I just hope to keep it going. I might sleep a little later, but it's just golf with a different scenario and different situation.

"I'm going to go out and play the best I can tomorrow," he added. "If it's good enough, it's good enough. If it's not, someone had to play good to beat me."

Were Gates to win tomorrow, he would be the 13th player to win in his Nationwide Tour debut, joining Australians Stuart Appleby and Gavin Coles, among others. Miguel Angel Carballo of Argentina, who is in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open field, was the last to do so in 2007 at the Movistar Panama Championship.

A native of Gainesville, Fla., and 2008 graduate of Texas A&M University, Gates was a first-round co-leader and held a one-shot lead over Dodt at yesterday's midway point. The affable Aggie has demonstrated a relaxed air about himself while walking the fairways with his caddie and girlfriend, Lauren Johnson of Houston, by his side.

Leading by one over Dodt and Curtain standing on the 12th tee, Gates pulled away from the duo with consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 15.

Like Gates, Dodt is 24 and seeking his first professional victory.

"It was disappointing to bogey the last hole but I had a lot of good stuff going on and hopefully tomorrow a few more putts can go my way,'' he said.

"Bobby (Gates) is a great guy," Dodt continued. "We talked the whole way round so it's good we both played well and enjoyed ourselves at the same time. I feel I'm in with a chance. I've stuck to the game plan for three rounds so I'll be doing the same tomorrow—holing more putts is the key.''

Mark Hensby of Australia turned in the day's best round, a 6-under 66, to move into a tie for fourth with countryman Matthew Griffin and Californian Kevin Chappell.

D.J. Brigman, who played in the final group with Gates and Dodt, did not feed off the good play of his fellow competitors. A 74 dropped him from third place into a tie for seventh.

The New Zealand Open is the country's oldest golf championship dating back to 1907 and has been won by four World Golf Hall of Fame members, including four-time Open winner and New Zealand native Bob Charles.

The championship is co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Third-round notes:

• Phil Tataurangi remains the top Kiwi. He is tied for seventh. First-round co-leader and fellow Kiwi David Smail is two strokes back in a tie for 16th.

• A pair of former NCAA Championship individual winners (and members of championship teams), Kevin Chappell (UCLA) and Jamie Lovemark (USC), are lurking inside the top 10. Chappell is tied for fourth after shooting 71. Lovemark is tied for seventh following a second straight 69. Lovemark flew straight from the Bob Hope Classic in California, arriving here on Wednesday afternoon.

• Last year's runner-up, Martin Piller, is among those tied for 11th. He was the third-round leader in 2009, only to be caught by champion Alex Prugh, who shot a final-round 64.

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Golf-American Points and Japan’s Imada set Torrey pace (Reuters)

* Points in tie for lead after eagling the sixth

* Local favorite Mickelson four shots off the pace

(Updates at end of round)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SAN DIEGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Little-known American DAPoints took advantage of another calm day at Torrey Pines tocharge into a tie for the lead in Friday’s second round of theSan Diego Open.

Despite playing on the more difficult and longer SouthCourse, Points recorded five birdies and an eagle three at thesixth on the way to a flawless, seven-under-par 65.

The 33-year-old covered his homeward nine in five under foran 11-under total of 133 to finish level with Japan’s RyujiImada, who carded a 68 on the South layout.

Australian Michael Sim eagled the par-five 18th on theeasier North Course for a best-of-the-week 62 to lie twostrokes off the pace with PGA Tour rookie Matt Every (70).

Tournament favourite and three-times champion PhilMickelson fired a 67 on the North layout to share 10th place atseven under, two shots better than South African Ernie Els,after a 69 on the North.

Points, seeking his maiden PGA Tour title, was delighted toflourish at a venue where he has always felt at home.

“I’ve played this course a lot more than I’ve played theother one and I feel pretty comfortable out here,” he toldreporters after totalling only 25 putts.

MAKING PUTTS

“The main thing here is obviously just making putts anddriving the fairway and those are two things that I’ve done thelast two rounds, especially today I made a lot of putts.

“My iron game isn’t quite as sharp as I would love it to bebut certainly making putts is always a good way to make up fora little bit of a sloppy iron game.”

Imada, whose only victory on the PGA Tour came at the 2008AT&T Classic, was also pleased to fare well on the brutal7,698-yard South layout.

“I’m very happy,” the 33-year-old said. “It did play alittle easier today without the wind and the warm weather but68 on that golf course is a great round.

“My irons have been really good. I’ve hit a lot of greensand my putts from long range have been really good as far asjudging the distances.”

The cut fell at two-under 142 with 2004 champion John Daly,U.S. Ryder Cup player Chad Campbell and Australians Jason Dayand Stuart Appleby among those missing out. (Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Golf-Mickelson, Stricker head strong Riviera field (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES, Jan 29 (Reuters) – World number two PhilMickelson and third-ranked Steve Stricker will head a stronglineup for next week’s Northern Trust Open at Riviera CountryClub.

The duo will be joined by fellow American Jim Furyk, theworld number five, and seventh-ranked Irishman PadraigHarrington in the field finalised by the PGA Tour on Friday.

Left-hander Mickelson, who is making his first appearanceof the season at this week’s San Diego Open, will be bidding tobecome the first player to win a third successive title atRiviera.

Mickelson beat compatriot Jeff Quinney by two shots in 2008before clinching last year’s tournament by a stroke overStricker after recording two birdies in the last three holes.

Also competing at Riviera next week will be former worldnumber one Ernie Els of South Africa and Japanese sensation RyoIshikawa, who has been awarded a Commissioner’s foreignexemption for the second year in a row.

“We are excited about our field for this year’s event,”tournament executive director and former NBA great Jerry Westsaid in a statement.

“We feel like we have a great mix of some of the game’sbiggest stars as well as some of golf’s best young talent.”

The Northern Trust Open will take place from Feb. 4-7. (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in San Diego; Editing by JohnO’Brien; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Points, Imada tied for lead at Torrey Pines

SAN DIEGO (AP)—D.A. Points saved his best golf for the toughest track and shota 7-under 65 on the South Course at Torrey Pines, giving him a share of the leadwith Ryuji Imada in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Imada also played the South, which hosted the U.S. Open two years ago, andshot 68. They were at 11-under 133 and had a two-shot lead over Matt Every (70)and Michael Sim of Australia, who shot a 62 on the North Course on Friday.

A frustrated Phil Mickelson st… AP – Jan 29, 5:56 pm EST Alex Cejka, of Germany, blast … AP – Jan 29, 5:55 pm EST Jonathan Byrd stands among the… AP – Jan 29, 5:55 pm EST D.A. Points urges on his birdi… AP – Jan 29, 5:54 pm EST A smiling Ryuji Imada awaits h… AP – Jan 29, 5:53 pm EST Ryuji Imada rips a huge divot … AP – Jan 29, 5:53 pm EST Ryuji Imada signs an autograph… AP – Jan 29, 5:50 pm EST Hunter Mahan lets loose his dr… AP – Jan 29, 4:56 pm EST K.J. Choi, of South Korea, sen… AP – Jan 29, 4:46 pm EST Ryuji Imada reacts as his erra… AP – Jan 29, 4:38 pm EST Ryuji Imada finishes his swing… AP – Jan 29, 4:34 pm EST K.J. Choi, of South Korea, dri… AP – Jan 29, 4:27 pm EST The threesome of Pat Perez, K.… AP – Jan 29, 4:23 pm EST Matt Every tees off on the sec… AP – Jan 29, 4:13 pm EST Rickie Fowler uses his fairway… AP – Jan 29, 4:03 pm EST Phil Mickelson drives on the 1… AP – Jan 29, 3:55 pm EST D.A. Points drives on the seve… AP – Jan 29, 3:55 pm EST Phil Mickelson hits from the b… AP – Jan 29, 3:53 pm EST Robert Allenby drives on the 1… AP – Jan 29, 3:51 pm EST Phil Mickelson pumps his fist … AP – Jan 29, 3:50 pm EST K.J. Choi hits his tee shot on… AP – Jan 28, 7:31 pm EST John Daly hits hits his tee sh… AP – Jan 28, 7:29 pm EST John Daly hits from the fairwa… AP – Jan 28, 7:28 pm EST Scott Piercy acknowledges the … AP – Jan 28, 7:02 pm EST Scott Piercy drives on the 18t… AP – Jan 28, 6:52 pm EST Scott Piercy acknowledges the … AP – Jan 28, 6:51 pm EST Ryuji Imada, of Japan, tees of… AP – Jan 28, 6:37 pm EST Ryuji Imada sends the turf fly… AP – Jan 28, 6:36 pm EST Ryuji Imada, of Japan, reacts … AP – Jan 28, 6:27 pm EST John Daly studies his putt on … AP – Jan 28, 6:14 pm EST Ryan Palmer follows through wi… AP – Jan 28, 6:06 pm EST Steve Lowery watches his tee s… AP – Jan 28, 5:54 pm EST Justin Rose, of England, watch… AP – Jan 28, 5:53 pm EST Josh Teater hits his tee shot … AP – Jan 28, 5:53 pm EST Chris Tidland watches his tee … AP – Jan 28, 5:52 pm EST Josh Teater hits his tee shot … AP – Jan 28, 5:51 pm EST Justin Rose, of England, watch… AP – Jan 28, 5:44 pm EST Rocco Mediate, making his firs… AP – Jan 28, 5:30 pm EST Steve Lowery watches his tee s… AP – Jan 28, 5:28 pm EST Chad Campbell blast from a bun… AP – Jan 28, 5:24 pm EST Robert Allenby, of Australia, … AP – Jan 28, 5:17 pm EST Jesper Parnevik, of Sweden, te… AP – Jan 28, 4:58 pm EST Boo Weekley shouts at his ball… AP – Jan 28, 4:43 pm EST Ben Crane drives on the 18th h… AP – Jan 28, 4:42 pm EST Daniel Chopra, left, of Sweden… AP – Jan 28, 4:35 pm EST Phil Mickelson tees off the se… AP – Jan 28, 4:16 pm EST Andres Romero, of Argintina, w… AP – Jan 28, 4:12 pm EST Boo Weekley shouts at his ball… AP – Jan 28, 4:09 pm EST Phil Mickelson and caddie Jim … AP – Jan 28, 4:07 pm EST Ryan Palmer reacts to missing … AP – Jan 28, 3:23 pm EST Ryan Palmer reacts to missing … AP – Jan 28, 3:22 pm EST Chad Campbell hits his approac… AP – Jan 28, 3:21 pm EST John Daly hits from a fairway… AP – Jan 28, 3:21 pm EST Ernie Els, of South Africa, … AP – Jan 28, 3:19 pm EST Phil Mickelson blasts from the… AP – Jan 28, 3:18 pm EST Phil Mickelson blasts from the… AP – Jan 28, 3:17 pm EST Phil Mickelson, left, hits fro… AP – Jan 27, 4:33 pm EST Phil Mickelson, watches his te… AP – Jan 27, 4:29 pm EST Phil Mickelson, left, exchange… AP – Jan 27, 4:25 pm EST Phil Mickelson tees off on the… AP – Jan 27, 4:22 pm EST Phil Mickelson tees off on the… AP – Jan 27, 4:21 pm EST Phil Mickelson, left, chat wit… AP – Jan 27, 4:21 pm EST Phil Mickelson, left, chat wit… AP – Jan 27, 4:20 pm EST Phil Mickelson, left, walks wi… AP – Jan 27, 4:20 pm EST The purple and paisley pants o… AP – Jan 27, 4:19 pm EST Phil Mickelson tees off on the… AP – Jan 27, 4:02 pm EST Phil Mickelson answers questio… AP – Jan 27, 1:54 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 66; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = 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Phil Mickelson also played the easier North Course, although it took him awhile to get going. Mickelson birdied his last hole for a 67 and was four shotsbehind going into the weekend, when everyone who made the cut plays the SouthCourse.

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Gates leads New Zealand Open after 3 rounds

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (AP)—American Robert Gates made four straight birdieson the back nine for a 4-under-par 68 that gave him a three-shot lead afterSaturday’s third round of the New Zealand Open.

After a bogey at the par-4 11th, Gates ran in birdie putts on the 12th,13th, 14th and 15th to increase his one-shot overnight lead. He had a 16-under200 total in the event sanctioned by the U.S. Nationwide and PGA Tour ofAustralasia.

Australia’s Andrew Dodt (70) was three shots back in second place, with afurther two strokes to compatriot Michael Curtain (68) in third.

American Kevin Chappell (71) and Australians Mark Hensby (66) and MatthewGriffin (70) were in joint fourth at 9 under, seven strokes off the leader.

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Daly says (again) he’s quitting

SAN DIEGO (AP)—John Daly missed another cut and said on Friday he was donewith golf.

Whether that meant for the rest of the U.S. West Coast Swing or the rest ofhis career would not be determined until the two-time major champion stoppedgoing to U.S. PGA Tour events.

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Daly shot 71 at the Farmers Insurance Open and missed the cut by nine shots.Stopped in the parking lot by a crew from Golf Channel, which was filming hisreality show, Daly said in a series of clipped responses, “I’m done. … Ican’t compete. … Just can’t play like I used to.”

It was the second time in six months Daly has said he was retiring. Hethreatened to quit after shooting 88 in the Buick Open last summer, although hisswing coach attributed that to rapid weight loss. Daly went on to play four moretimes.

Golf Channel has been promoting a reality show starring Daly that is todebut in March. Daly is scheduled to play in two weeks at Pebble Beach, and hehas received a sponsor’s exemption to the Transitions Championship outsideTampa, Florida in March.

“We haven’t heard from him,” said Gerald Goodman, the Transitionstournament director. “I wouldn’t anticipate that to happen. I’m sure he wasfrustrated.”

Daly has missed the cut in both his U.S. PGA Tour starts this year.

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The Daily Wrap-up, Round 2: Farmers Insurance Open (PGATOUR.com)

SAN DIEGO—D.A. Points saved his best golf for the tougher course at Torrey Pines and wound up in a share of the second-round lead with Ryuji Imada in the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday.

Points avoided a shaky start with a series of good par saves, then finished strong with an eagle and a birdie over the final four holes on the South Course for a 7-under 65. Imada also played the South, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2008, and shot a 68.

Imada, who was runner-up to Tiger Woods by eight shots in 2008 at PGA TOUR event, has yet to make a bogey.

They were at 11-under 133, giving them a head start going into the weekend when it's far easier to keep track of who's doing well.

Torrey Pines has two of the most distinct courses on TOUR, with the South playing 2 shots easier than the North. Points apparently didn't get the memo.

"Funny enough, I've played this course a lot more than I've played the other one, and I feel pretty comfortable out here," he said.

They were two strokes ahead of Matt Every, who had a 70 on the South, and Michael Sim of Australia, who had a tournament-best 62 on the North Course and finished with an eagle.

Robert Allenby, who opened with a 67 on what he called the "real course"—the South—didn't fare quite as well on the North as he struggled on the bumpy greens. He still had a 69 and was three shots back going into the weekend.

Phil Mickelson didn't go as low as he wanted, but he also finished with a flourish for a 67 that left him only four shots behind in his first tournament of the year. Mickelson spent most of his time after the round answering questions about the old Ping wedge in his bag with square grooves, and Scott McCarron accusing him of "cheating" for using it.

"I think he's saying the rule is a terrible rule," Mickelson said.

More important to Mickelson is having a chance on a hometown course that has befuddled him since the South Course was revamped to accommodate a U.S. Open. Mickelson is a three-time winner at Torrey Pines, but not since 2001. A victory this week would be his third in four starts, something he has never done in his career.

The final two rounds are held on the South Course, and some believe the tournament doesn't really start until Saturday.

Points, with a 36-hole lead for only the third time, relishes two more days on the South.

He not only played the U.S. Open, but the Junior World Championship at Torrey Pines twice. That brought back some sour memories, although it had nothing to do with his scores. Points said he tied for seventh at the Junior Worlds in his last year, which qualified him to compete in a junior event in Japan.

"Like a stupid kid, I didn't go to Japan," he said. "I went and played in the Maxfli Junior PGA because it was on ESPN, and I thought it would be cool to be on TV rather than to have the experience of going to Japan. I kind of regret that part."

Twenty players were separated by five shots going into the weekend on a course that can be punishing for short hitters who aren't in the fairway, and everyone who can't judge the distance to reach the proper spots on the greens.

Mickelson struggled on the greens, missing three birdie opportunities in a span of four holes. The other was the 323-yard second hole, where he pounded a driver that barely cleared a bunker and hopped onto the green for a two-putt birdie.

"I didn't have many birdie putts, but I was able to make all the tough par putts and kind of salvage the round," Mickelson said.

Allenby referred to the North Course as "Mickey Mouse-ish," and while his score didn't indicate that—a 69—he had few complaints with his position. Allenby has two victories and a runner-up finish on three tours in his last three starts, and is playing as well as anyone.

The struggle was not so much the greens, but his emotions.

He wore a pink shirt with a purpose for the second round.

"One year ago today at 9 a.m., my mother drew her last breath," he said somberly.

Allenby's mother died of cancer on Jan. 29, and he spent Friday thinking about his shots, and thinking about his mother.

"I was up and down like a yo-yo," he said. "That was one of the worst times of my life. What I'm trying to do now is make this one of the best weeks of my life."

Other notables at the Farmers Insurance Open Name Score Position Comment Saturday tee time (ET) Rickie Fowler 7 under T10 The rookie makes his first cut of the year, shooting a second-round 70 with three birdies on the back nine of the South Course. 12:25 p.m. Lucas Glover 6 under T15 The U.S. Open champion climbed 42 spots on the leaderboard thanks to a round of 5 under on the North Course. 12:15 p.m. Ernie Els 5 under T21 In a rare appearance at Torrey Pines, the Big Easy took 33 putts despite hitting 94 percent of his greens in regulation. 11:55 a.m. Rocco Mediate 4 under T29 Mediate was just 1 under after hitting only 43 percent of his fairways on Friday, but he survived the cut in his first action of the year. 11:15 a.m. Boo Weekley 4 under T29 Weekley fell 22 spots, shooting a 1-over 73 on the South Course, where he took 32 putts. 10:55 a.m.

INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK PGA TOUR Network correspondent Mark Carnevale offers these observations from Friday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146/SIRIUS 209 or right here at PGATOUR.COM.

Another beautiful day in San Diego led to some more great scoring at both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines. The tournament now moves entirely to the South Course for the weekend. Once again the North Course yielded the better scores for the day. Conditions were very similar as the first round with just a bit more wind.

I was positioned on the North Course for the second day. Today, I was only with one group. That was the pairing of Ryan Palmer, Marc Turnesa and local favorite Phil Mickelson. It was a tough day for both Ryan and Marc as they missed the cut. Phil, on the other hand, was typical Phil. He made a bunch of birdies (six) and finished off his round making a long par save at the eighth and a lengthy birdie at his last (the par-5 ninth) to the delight of the largest crowd on the course. Phil has left himself in good position heading into the weekend, just four shots behind the leader.

The buzz of the day among fans and media following Phil was unfortunately about an article that came out about Phil using a particular wedge. So I am going to give you my two cents on this. Now all—or maybe most—golf fans know about the groove change in effect for 2010. The reality of this is that Phil is using a conforming club. I think it is wrong to attack him for something that is not his doing. He is just abiding by the rules. To paraphrase Al Pacino in the movie "Scent of a Woman," "This young man's integrity and character are non-negotiable." I have known Phil for a long time, and I personally do not think he is doing anything that anyone should question. The problem is with the rule. Fix that, problem solved, end of story.

Live Essentials Follow every shot with our newest application The only place on the Internet for real-time live scoring Listen to expert commentary on the PGA TOUR Network News, notes, stats and analysis during each round

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Golf-McCarron accuses Mickelson of cheating, Daly plans to quit (Reuters)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SAN DIEGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Emotions ran high at the SanDiego Open on Friday when Phil Mickelson was accused ofcheating by fellow American Scott McCarron and double majorwinner John Daly said he was quitting the game.

World number two Mickelson was criticised by McCarron forexploiting a loophole in golf’s new groove rules by using a20-year-old Ping wedge and fan-favourite Daly told the GolfChannel he was finished after missing the second-round cut.

McCarron, who also missed the cut at Torrey Pines onFriday, said Mickelson was “taking an unfair advantage of therules”.

In an interview with the Golf Channel, he added: “Golf is agentleman’s game and most of us out here on the PGA Tour don’tthink it’s the right thing to do.”

Although McCarron backed off on again using the word‘cheat’, he had told Friday’s San Francisco Chronicle: “It’scheating and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play.

“All those guys should be ashamed of themselves for doingthat. As one of our premier players, (Mickelson) should be oneof the guys who steps up and says this is wrong.”

As of Jan. 1, new rules relating to club-face grooves wereimplemented at the top level after research found modernconfigurations could allow players to generate almost as muchspin with irons from the rough as from the fairway.

All clubs, with the exception of drivers and putters, havebeen affected by the change which limits groove volume andgroove-edge sharpness, effectively replacing U-grooves withV-grooves.

SQUARE GROOVES

McCarron took exception to the Ping-Eye 2 wedge used byMickelson, a club with square grooves which is legal because ofa lawsuit won by its manufacturer over the United States GolfAssociation (USGA) in 1990.

Mickelson agreed with McCarron’s overall stance but tookexception at how his compatriot had made his point.

“I totally agree with him (McCarron),” Mickelson toldreporters after shooting a five-under-par 67 in the secondround. “I think it’s a ridiculous rule.

“But it’s not up to me or any other player to interpretwhat the interpretation of the rule is or the spirit of therule. All my clubs are approved for play, and I take that veryseriously not to violate any rule.

“I’ve been talking with Dick Rugge of the USGA and talkingto the (PGA Tour) commissioner and explaining behind closeddoors how ridiculous all this is. I don’t agree with the way he(McCarron) carried on about it, but that’s his choice.”

Later on Friday, the PGA Tour said in a statement: “We havebeen aware… the pre-1990 clubs would be allowed and thatthere was the potential that some players might choose to usethem. We will monitor this situation as we move forward.”

Shortly before Mickelson completed his round on the NorthCourse, Daly signed for a 71 on the same layout before tellingthe Golf Channel: “I’m done… with golf.

“I just can’t do it any more. I’m tired of embarrassingmyself. I can’t keep taking spots from guys out here playingthis bad.”

Daly, who has missed his first two PGA Tour cuts of theyear, has played on sponsor’s exemptions since losing his pastchampion category after the 2007 season.

He has not won on the U.S. circuit since the 2004 BuickInvitational. (Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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