<p>Mickelson is one of several players at this week’s tournament at Torrey Pines using a Ping-Eye 2 wedge, manufactured two decades ago with square grooves. The square grooves are now banned on the PGA Tour because of a new US Golf Association regulation that club faces have V-shaped grooves.<br /><br />However, the square-groove Ping wedges remain legal because of a lawsuit that Ping filed against the USGA that was settled in 1990. The outcome of that action was that any Ping-Eye 2 manufactured before April 1, 1990, is approved for play.<br />“It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play,” McCarron told the San Francisco Chronicle in a story published on Friday. <br /><br />McCarron said Mickelson’s use of the wedges was against the spirit of the new rules. While a ‘cheat’ label is abhorrent in golf, a game that prides itself on honesty and self-policing, Mickelson refused to enter a debate with McCarron.<br /><br />Instead, Mickelson criticised the rule itself. “It’s a terrible rule. To change something that has this kind of loophole is nuts,” Mickelson said.<br />“But it’s not up to me or any other player to interpret what the rule is or the spirit of the rule.”</p>
<p>Mickelson is one of several players at this week’s tournament at Torrey Pines using a Ping-Eye 2 wedge, manufactured two decades ago with square grooves. The square grooves are now banned on the PGA Tour because of a new US Golf Association regulation that club faces have V-shaped grooves.<br /><br />However, the square-groove Ping wedges remain legal because of a lawsuit that Ping filed against the USGA that was settled in 1990. The outcome of that action was that any Ping-Eye 2 manufactured before April 1, 1990, is approved for play.<br />“It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it in play,” McCarron told the San Francisco Chronicle in a story published on Friday. <br /><br />McCarron said Mickelson’s use of the wedges was against the spirit of the new rules. While a ‘cheat’ label is abhorrent in golf, a game that prides itself on honesty and self-policing, Mickelson refused to enter a debate with McCarron.<br /><br />Instead, Mickelson criticised the rule itself. “It’s a terrible rule. To change something that has this kind of loophole is nuts,” Mickelson said.<br />“But it’s not up to me or any other player to interpret what the rule is or the spirit of the rule.”</p>