Both Golf Digest and Golf World readers are passionately weighing in on the groove wars: Do players who use the old Ping wedges that contain the "U" grooves but have been grandfathered, cheat? Or are they just taking advantage of a rule, the way you might when you take a drop out of casual water and--gosh, that's a break--away from a tree? Scott McCarron says Phil Mickelson is "cheating" when he uses those old Ping wedges, violating the "spirit of the rule." But not all McCarrons agree.
I am a left-handed golfer that still uses Ping Eye 2 irons and wedges. My favorite pro golfer is Phil Mickelson, not only for his skills but also for his demeanor and integrity. And because my name is McCarron I enthusiastically follow Scott McCarron's success on the tour.I have to say that Scott McCarron's recent comments were way off base regarding Phil's decision to include square grooves in his bag! The Eye 2 clubs are not illegal clubs so labeling Phil a "cheater" in any way is extremely poor judgement and sportsmanship on the part of Scott McCarron, or any other pro that questions the use of the grandfathered square groove wedges. Question the PGA Tour's policy committee if you want but don't infer that a guy of Phil's caliber and character is cheating by putting the clubs in his bag. Mr. McCarron perhaps should perhaps apolgize to Phil. I am sure Phil will take the high road on the subject. Dan McCarron, Wakefield, MA
Being that he now claims he was "slandered" his road may be heading lower.
Hey Guys! How about giving up the Pings and the Belly Putter (in the spirit of the game).
Dean Toriello MD, Grand Rapids, Mi
Now you're talking, Doc. Anything that makes it harder to get clubs
into a travel bag violates the spirit of the game as far as I'm
concerned.
Maybe Scott McCarron should invest in the 20-year-old Ping wedges to revive his diminishing golf career. In fact, if it wasn't for McCarron utilizing a questionable legal club the long putter, he would not have had a PGA tour career. Gene Martineau, Roseville, CA.
That's very cold, Gene, but it's within the rules because you used a short letter. Be advised, however, that there are McCarron defenders...
While Mickelson is technically not
cheating because of the settlement agreement between Ping and the USGA,
he is in fact violating the clear intent of the USGA to eliminate
square grooves from competition. Jon Daly's lack of talent and low
moral threshold make his use of the old wedges understandable.
Mickelson's abundant talent and high moral threshold make his decision
unfathomable.
McCarron is right. Mickelson is cheating within the rules and he has
lost me as a fan. Professional golf is fast becoming an irrelevant
sport.
John R. Linnell, Tucson, AZ
Seems to me that "cheating within the rules" is impossible. Call it unsportsmanlike, perhaps, but if you're within the rules, you're within the rules--and Mickelson is. Could it be that he's trying to make a point for his and other equipment suppliers whose U grooves are not allowed? Stranger things have happened. Some of you have suggested that a "local rule" could take care of this situation. But according to Mike Johnson of Golf World, the Tour signed a settlement with Ping that precludes such a local rule.
--Bob Carney
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