Smiting Drives - Mickelson is not the problem in wedge cheat row
02 Feb 2010 - 06:52:59
Smiting Drives referred to Phil Mickleson as golf's 'Mr Congeniality' last time out, ushering in the week that would see him labelled a cheat and embroiled in Tiger-esque tabloid hell.
Mickelson's crime, so said US Tour ghost Scott McCarron (last victory, 2001), was his decision to play U-Grooved Ping Eye2 wedges in 2010.
"It's cheating and I'm appalled Phil's put it in play," McCarron told the San Francisco Cronicle. "As one of our premier players he should be one of the guys who steps up and says this is wrong."
In case you didn't read the memo, or you happen to have a life, U-Grooves have been banned by the PGA Tour in an attempt to put greater emphasis on accurate driving. Without the ability to create spin from practically any lie on the course, players will no longer be able to just slap it and hope.
But it's not as simple as that.
Ping went to war on the rule change, and being the corporate powerhouse they are, managed to gain a 'Grandfather Clause' for their line of Eye2 wedges.
According to McCarron, the PGA Tour were well aware of the implications, but simply decided to put the onus on players to make their own decision. Murky waters were on the horizon.
What happened next was really interesting. Mickelson, having not played with Eye2 wedges in the past, decided to take advantage of the loophole and go with them at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
"I don't think it's breaking the rules, it's bending them," said Lee Westwood, before launching into some thinly-veiled gear boasting.
"I could do it more than anybody else, because I've got thousands of Ping wedges. I have the opportunity to do it and I don't."
But a determined Mickelson told the Golf Channel he had no intention of backing down.
"It is a terrible rule to change something that has this kind of loophole...it's nuts. But it's not up to me or any other player to interpret the rule, or the spirit the rule.
"I understand black and white. And I think that myself or any other player is allowed to play those clubs because they're approved. End of story."
It's almost as if Mickelson is attempting to highlight the insanity of the rule in his actions. And it's working.
But it's completely wrong to call him a cheat. In a high-pressure, multi-million-dollar business, Mickelson is simply gaining every advantage he can by interpreting the rules in the most intelligent way. There's no shame in that.
What happens next is in the hands of the Gods. The Gods being US Tour chief Tom Finchem.
And if they look away, you should fully expect to see Lefty and his Eye2 wedges working some serious spin at the Northern Telecom Open.
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