After he finished his round at the PGA's Farmers Insurance Open, Phil Mickelson took umbrage at being called a cheater by fellow golfer, Scott McCarron.
While appreciative that the PGA Tour had come to his defense by chastising McCarron, although not by name, Mickelson was clear that more was necessary.
The dust up is a result of Mickelson's use of a golf wedge that is not against the rules of the Tour but only by reason of a legal exception. His Ping wedge has square grooves on its face rather than the now approved V-shaped grooves.
The exception was made because of a two decades old law suit by Ping that grandfathered their club and theirs alone when the rule change took effect on January 1, 2010.
McCarron knows about the exception but decided to go for broke with his accusations of cheating by Mickelson instead of just admitting that it angers him that the spirit of the rule is being ignored.
Yahoo! Sports reported that Mickelson hinted at legal action when he was asked about the situation after his third round was finished. "We all have our opinions on the matter, but a line was crossed and I just was publicly slandered,” Mickelson said. “And because of that, I’ll have to let other people handle that.”
He refused to go into detail when asked if that meant he was getting his lawyers on the case or if he meant that the Tour had better sanction McCarron.
Nevertheless, Ping wedge or no Ping wedge, Mickelson faded in the final round on Sunday, shot a one over par and fell to 19th place. Ben Crane took the championship trophy.
Mickelson is the great hope for the Tour in the absence of its big cash cow, Tiger Woods. He's a sponsor and fan favorite and it is in no one's interest for him to be surrounded by questions.
This could all go away if he chose not to use the club but it appears he's dug in his heels for the moment at least.
The PGA has asked that players attend a meeting in Los Angeles on Tuesday at which time it is presumed that Commissioner Tim Finchem will attempt to quell the disturbance.
Los Angeles is the site of next week's tournament, the Northern Trust Open.
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Comments
Scott McCarron plays with a belly putter. Why does the PGA/USGA allow golfers to play with belly putters. This is not living up to the spirt of the game. Belly putters should only be allowed on the seniors tour and McCarron should try to make the cut and shut his mouth.
Phil is such a gentleman that he would do nothing against the spirit of any golf rule. The Ping company won the right to grandfather their club; therefore, its use is not against any PGA rule of golf. McCarron is just pouting - and the PGA Commissioner will, hopefully, decide the matter on Tues. Regardless of the outcome of the meeting Phil will certainly continue to be his dignified self.
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