Read the opposing argument from Loyal Homer.
When NASCAR teams put illegal engines in cars and remove restrictor plates they are engaged in cheating. When MLB players use corked bats during games they are engaged in cheating. When Phil Mickelson uses a wedge that complies with USGA rules that is not cheating.
In the wake of Tiger Woods’ complete character makeover (I think he must have hired Charlie Sheen and John Gosselin as life coaches), the PGA must have been praying for a story that did not involve text messages, cheating, or exotic dancers. Well they got one… and I bet they are thinking that two out of three isn’t half bad.
Phil Mickelson was recently slandered by fellow pro Scott McCarron, who claims that Mickelson is “cheating.” What dubious tactic did Lefty employ to gain his unfair advantage, you ask? He is using a wedge which contains grooves that do not conform to current USGA rules. So he is cheating. Case closed award the victory to Loyal Homer, right?
Not so fast! Although Lefty’s wedge has grooves that do not comply with USGA regulations, they are indeed legal. There is a special provision to the groove regulation – a grandfather clause – that allows players to use any wedge produced before April 1, 1990. Mickelson’s wedge, the Ping Eye2, was indeed produced before this date, so he is actually using a legal club. A LEGAL CLUB. Case closed award the victory to Babe Ruthless.
For those not ready to immediately award me the debate victory, let’s continue to explore the case against Mickelson.
McCarron mistakenly declared Mickelson a cheater, probably because the perception exists that the grooves of the older wedge provide a great deal more spin than other contemporary wedges, but this is really an exaggeration at best. Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, acknowledged that the wedge only provides a minimal amount of extra spin (approximately 10 percent more spin) than other wedges with grooves that comply with the rule. Really, there is no edge. The rule allows anyone to use one of the grandfathered clubs, so where is the edge in that? (Maybe some of the other golfers might be too drunk to find the club on EBay… I’m talking to you, John Daly.)
Still others are upset that the use of the Ping Eye2 wedge violates the spirit of the rule. The “spirit” of the rule… are you kidding me? That is like complaining that bunting violates the spirit of hitting in baseball, or that faking a punt in football somehow violates the spirit of competitive play because not every team chooses to attempt trick plays. Maybe once those golfers who are worried about the spirit of the rule are done braiding each other’s hair and talking about their feelings, we can get back to taking about sports. It sounds to me that the competition in the PGA wants to try to create ticky-tack rules to handicap Mickelson (handicap… that’s pun-tastic).
For those who are still not convinced, check out this statement by the PGA:
“Under the Rules of Golf and the 2010 Condition of Competition for Groove Specifications promulgated by the USGA, pre-1990 Ping Eye2 irons are permitted for play and any player who uses them in PGA TOUR sanctioned events taking place in jurisdictions of the USGA is not in violation of the Rules of Golf; and Because the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye2 irons is permitted for play, public comments or criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best.”
Lefty is definitely not cheating. In fact, he is such a stand-up guy he has agreed to remove the club from his arsenal – for the time being. While that alone does not prove that he is not a cheater, it does prove that he is not a jerk – which is more than I can say for losers who accuse him of cheating in the first place.
