Mickelson, Ping and Fincham

[didsbury_duffer]

Mickelson has dropped the wedge because of respect for the other players who did not agree with him using it, but who did not go OTT like McCarron. However, he has put the ball firmly in Finchem's court by stating that he, the USGA and Ping need to sort it out a.s.a.p., or he may put the wedge back in the bag later this year. Finchem is now stuck between a rock and a hard place, but as I don't like the guy it should be interesting to see what cock-up he makes next.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree that I don't think he's particularly good for the state of the game in America. He has always struck me as someone who is looking at what he can get of it or how good it makes him look. I think Mickleson has backed him nicely into a corner. I do think it makes sense for a ruling to be made and avoid the unpleasantness of McCarron calling Mickleson a cheat and then backtracking. There is abviously huge issues with this club but I don't think Fincham is strong enough to make the decision

 

[Dodger]

I am suprised at Phil here,he hadn't done anything incorrect so why put the wedges away? I would have carried on using it,seems almost like an act of guilt.

 

[drawboy]

It is so simple, the bloody wedge has been out of production for nigh on 20yrs, it was controversial when it was in production, I know I had some. There will always be people who will bend or stretch the rules to suit themselves but in this case it is a no brainer. The rules have been set so abide by them. I cannot see Ping complaining like they did at the time with another lawsuit. It just needs the USPGA to say look guys you don't use anything that is or comes close to infringing the rules, end of discussion.If the players are allowed to become bigger than the game a la' football then it's on a slippery slope.

 

[CrapHacker]

I am suprised at Phil here,he hadn't done anything incorrect so why put the wedges away? I would have carried on using it,seems almost like an act of guilt.

Phil implied in an early reponse to all this, that he's presented some perfectly legal clubs, which haven't been approved.

So he's using/used the old club to show the USGA what a shower of doogy doo they are.

He only did it to prove a point and has been looking for a good 'out' since the cheat accusations began.

As long as it's a 'win / win' situation this will blow over in no time.

 

[USER1999]

I read yesterday that Mickelsons issue with the new rules is that you can provide a club, with the correct grooves, etc, and if the USPGA don't like it it will be banned too. So if Cally etc design something which gives spin from the rough, consider it banned. This will stifle development, and mean no advantage for any given manufacturer who has new ideas. In the long term, this means no new shiny stuff, and no money for the manufacturers, and also then players.

Not necessarily a good thing. How can you have a rule that states that anything that improves spin is automatically non conforming?

 

[TRS30]

I read yesterday that Mickelsons issue with the new rules is that you can provide a club, with the correct grooves, etc, and if the USPGA don't like it it will be banned too. So if Cally etc design something which gives spin from the rough, consider it banned. This will stifle development, and mean no advantage for any given manufacturer who has new ideas. In the long term, this means no new shiny stuff, and no money for the manufacturers, and also then players.

Not necessarily a good thing. How can you have a rule that states that anything that improves spin is automatically non conforming?

So if the USPGA don't like something they are just going to ban it?? No explanation??

Crazy carry on, how do these people get in charge??

Might see more players moving to the European tour in protest.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

So if the USPGA don't like something they are just going to ban it?? No explanation??

I'm an F1 fan so this seems all too familiar to me. I hope golf would somehow avoid the same technical regulation fighting but sadly it seems no sport is unaffected.