Golf-’Mickelson expects Tour to get into the groove dispute (Reuters)
January 31, 2010
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
SAN DIEGO, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Phil Mickelson expects thePGA Tour to take action after the world number two was accusedof cheating by fellow American Scott McCarron at this week’sSan Diego Open.
McCarron criticised Mickelson for exploiting a loophole ingolf’s new groove rules by using a 20-year-old Ping wedgeduring the tournament, although the club has been approved forplay.
“We all have our opinions on the matter but a line wascrossed and I was publicly slandered,” Mickelson told reporterson Saturday after carding a two-under-par 70 in the third roundat Torrey Pines.
“Because of that, I’ll have to let other people handle it.”
Asked whether he was considering legal action, Mickelsonreplied: “I’m not sure. I’m not sure. I think the (PGA) Tourwill probably get on top of it.”
McCarron, who missed the second-round cut at Torrey Pines,said earlier this week that three-times major winner Mickelsonwas “taking an unfair advantage of the rules”.
McCarron 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.”
TOP LEVEL
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.
McCarron took exception to the Ping-Eye 2 wedge used thisweek by Mickelson, a club with square grooves which is legalbecause of a lawsuit won by its manufacturer over the UnitedStates Golf Association in 1990.
On Thursday, Mickelson agreed with McCarron’s overallstance but took exception at how his compatriot had made hispoint.
“I totally agree with him (McCarron),” Mickelson said. “Ithink 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 don’t agree with the way he (McCarron) carried on aboutit, but that’s his choice.” (Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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