What is Scott McCarron thinking? Accusing someone of cheating when their actions are within the rules of the game is just wrong! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it has to do with an old wedge and a new rule. The new rule bans square grooves, but there is a loophole… the rule doesn’t apply to clubs made before April 1, 1990. Phil Mickelson isn’t a fan of the new rule, but he’s not about to break it. However, when he found out that a couple of other tour players had started using old Ping wedges to which the new rule did not apply, he decided to try it out. Turns out he liked it well enough to carry it this week. The club IS approved for use and he and a couple of others are using it. Everyone on tour could do the same thing if they wanted and if they thought it might improve their scores, why wouldn’t they? Taking advantage of the best equipment that is approved for play is just smart. It is not cheating. Tour veteran, Scott McCarron says otherwise.

I have no idea whether or not the old clubs with square grooves really have any advantage over clubs without square grooves made with newer technology that is designed for today’s golf balls. The reason the rule has this loophole has to do with a long-ago lawsuit and the USGA probably assumed that a 19-year-old wedge wasn’t relevant in the game today. They may have misjudged that.

I think McCarron did a disservice to himself, to Mickelson and to the other players who have chosen to use this wedge. The PGA Tour however, may benefit from even this bad publicity since it isn’t related to Tiger Woods. McCarron has now become one of the few players that I am unlikely to ever support, but others may see it differently and hold this against Phil. For me, it makes me want to cheer a little harder for Phil. I admire the fact that he was paying attention and discovered this opportunity and that he was willing to put in the time to see if it was right for him. I’m definitely tuning in this weekend to watch Phil!

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