Golf-Grooves problem resolved after Ping waives legal rights (Reuters)
March 8, 2010
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
LOS ANGELES, March 8 (Reuters) – The PGA Tour’s dilemma withthe controversial grooves rule, highlighted by Phil Mickelson inJanuary, was resolved on Monday when club manufacturer Pingopted to waive its rights as of March 29.
Under United States Golf Association (USGA) rulesimplemented on Jan. 1, square or U-grooves have been outlawedbut a 20-year-old Ping wedge was deemed legal because of alawsuit won by its manufacturer over the USGA in 1990.
Several players on the 2010 PGA Tour have used the squaregrooved wedge, most notably Mickelson who was accused of‘cheating’ by fellow American Scott McCarron at the San DiegoOpen in January. McCarron later apologised for his comments.
Ping chairman and chief executive John Solheim said hiscompany had acted “in the best interests of golf” and thatpre-April 1990 clubs would not be permitted on the U.S. circuitonce the March 29 waiver takes effect.
“The problem is solved on the PGA Tour and the integrity ofthe original agreements is unaffected,” Solheim said in astatement released by the Tour on Monday.
“It levels the playing field on the PGA Tour and resolves avery unfortunate situation that we predicted would happen whenthe USGA first proposed the new groove rule more than two yearsago.
“It keeps in place all of our other rights established …including ensuring amateurs will continue to be able to playtheir pre-April 1990 EYE2s at all amateur events played underthe USGA rules of golf.”
The waiver will apply to the PGA Tour, the senior ChampionsTour and the satellite Nationwide Tour.
Mickelson, renowned for his short game, has been aconsistent critic of the rule change and put the controversialclub in his bag at Torrey Pines simply to make a point.
“It was a ridiculous rule change and even worse timing,”said the 39-year-old world number three.
“It’s cost manufacturers millions of dollars. It continuesto cost them money as we now have to hire people to scan,document and store data of every groove on every single club.”
Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was delighted Ping had decidedto waive its rights under the 1990 settlement, saying: “JohnSolheim and Ping had a terrific opportunity to do something verypositive and significant for the game of golf and we very muchappreciate his willingness to take this action.” (Editing by Frank Pingue and Sonia Oxley; To query or commenton this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 10
