Lobbying against the loophole

Turns out Phil Mickelson was pulling the chains of golf's ruling bodies when he decided to use the Ping Eye 2 wedge at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego last week.

After announcing he won't be using the controversial club when he begins his two-time title defense of the Northern Trust Open today at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Mickelson said he hopes others will use the wedge to keep attention on what he calls a ridiculous rule.

“I won’t be playing that wedge. My point has been made,” Mickelson said yesterday. “But if these governing bodies cannot get together to fix this loophole, if players stop using this wedge – which would stop the pressure of the issue – then I will relook at it and put the wedge back in play.”

The Ping wedge has grooves that no longer conform under a new USGA regulation, adopted by the PGA Tour. However, any Ping wedge made before April 1, 1990, is approved for play under a legal settlement from two decades ago.

Mickelson is among five players who have used the Ping wedge in competition this year. Several players believe using the club goes against the spirit of the new grooves regulation, although Scott McCarron fueled the debate when he said of Mickelson and others, “It’s cheating.”

McCarron offered Mickelson an apology Tuesday night for his remarks and it was accepted.

“We all make mistakes, and we all say things we wish we could take back,” Mickelson said. “I’ve done it a bunch in my career. And the fact that it’s also not easy to come up and face that person, look them in the eye and apologize … I appreciate him being a big enough man to do that.”

However, Mickelson wasn't ready to forgive the USGA for its lack of transparency in developing the new rules for grooves. He has complained that his submitted wedges that fit the guidelines were rejected by the USGA for violating the intent of the new rule.

“I’ve very upset with the way the rule came about, the way one man essentially can approve or not approve a golf club based on his own personal decision, regardless of what the rule says,” Mickelson said. “This has got to change.”

How, when or if that change will come remains unclear. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem met with players Tuesday night and conceded that Tour officials did not realize a Ping wedge from 20 years ago would become such a big issue.

“The assumption was made last year that very few, if any, players would use that club because they’re 20 years old,” Finchem said. “I think we underestimated that a little bit.”

Doing nothing about the current situation seems unlikely because Finchem said issues over fairness in competition have been raised. It's possible an agreement with Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim can be reached. Solheim is to meet with the USGA over the next few weeks and Finchem hopes progress is made in that regard.

Any solution could be weeks, if not months, away. In the meantime, Mickelson said he would not use the wedge at the Northern Trust Open, even though he’s hopeful others will.

“If there’s no pressure among these organizations to make changes, I will immediately put the club back in play,” Mickelson said.

Oldgolfdawg thinks Mickelson is probably right about the need for more transparency in the formation of rule changes. The current controversy will not go away until it is addressed. It would be a shame to see someone win the Masters this year with a Ping Eye 2 wedge in their bag. It would taint the accomplishment in the minds of many. Some might even suggest putting an asterisk next to the winner's name.