Unless Phil Mickelson replaces longtime caddy Jim “Bones” MacKay with Huey Lewis, it’s not going to be hip to be square anytime soon.
Phil the Thrill has endured a media firestorm — amid a southern California rainstorm — after spinning a retro groove at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, thanks to a 1990 lawsuit settlement that allows for square-grooved Ping-Eye 2 wedges manufactured prior to April 1, 1990, to remain legal despite the newly implemented V-shaped groove mandate in the rule book.
Mickelson is now the poster child for those golfers — a list that includes three-time major champ Padraig Harrington, rising star Hunter Mahan and Tour bad boy John Daly — who are taking advantage of a loophole in the PGA Tour’s new rules regarding clubface grooves.
As the Northern Trust Open heads into a wet weekend, there could be plenty of downtime to talk about the issue. Instead of discussing Lefty’s attempt to win his third consecutive tournament at prestigious Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., the topic of controversy will be on what only the game’s governing body believes is “inappropriate” criticism.
“It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play,” Scott McCarron infamously told The San Francisco Chronicle to get the ball rolling, which is appropriate considering that the outlawed square grooves allowed for more spin when hitting out of the rough.
McCarron, who is a 16-year PGA Tour veteran as well as one of the 16 members of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council — a group that also includes Rich Beem, Jonathan Byrd, Steve Flesch, Harrison Frazar, Jim Furyk, Jeff Gove, Paul Goydos, Jerry Kelly, Joe Ogilvie, Sean O’Hair, Brett Quigley, Steve Stricker, Kevin Streelman, Mike Weir and Mark Wilson — did not back down from his original statements, even after being accused of “slander” by Mickelson.
“Anyone using that wedge, I feel, is behind the rules, even though we have a rule – that because of a lawsuit – says it’s okay,” said McCarron. “Golf is a gentleman’s game. I don’t think anyone should be using it.”
Although Mickelson has taken Ping-Eye 2 wedge out of his bag for this week’s event, the World’s No. 2 ranked player remains the face of the debate after using the 20-year-old throwback club in his 2010 season debut in his hometown of San Diego last week. Lefty may be within the letter of the law, but he doesn’t agree with the rule as currently written.
“It’s a terrible rule. To change something that has this kind of loophole is nuts,” said Mickelson. “But it’s not up to me or any other player to interpret what the rule is or the spirit of the rule. I understand black and white. And I think myself or any other player is allowed to play those clubs because they’re approved — end of story.”
For the record, Mickelson finished 19th at the Farmers Insurance Open, with an 8-under 280 for the week, despite the outrageous square-grooved wedge edge that has caused enough of an uproar to drown out Tiger Woods’ indefinite PGA purgatory, at least temporarily or until a slow week for Tour news.
“It doesn’t make any sense at all,” said 60-year-old eight-time major champion and 2009 British Open Championship runner-up Tom Watson, whose comments heard round the world were made at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier in the week and included a scolding of both Tiger and Phil. “I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
Regardless of what anyone says, Mickelson has his sites set on a third straight win at Riviera, along with the $1.134 million winner’s share of the $6.4 million total purse. And with or without rain delays, expect the NBC crew led by the outspoken Johnny Miller to find their groove over the airwaves, something Phil isn’t thrilled about.
“I don’t appreciate the governing bodies putting me or any other player in this position, calling into question our integrity over a rule that they made, a club that they approved,” said Mickelson, who is tied for 11th place at 4-under-par heading into the weekend.
“This whole groove thing has turned into a debacle.”
