Scott McCarron accuses Phil Mickelson of “cheating”
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Written by BigRed
Tiger Woods’ caddy Steve Williams insulted Phil Mickelson, Lefty is the center of yet another controversional debate after fellow PGA professional Scott McCarron (winner of three PGA Tour titles) accused Mickelson of cheating during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
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In Friday’s edition of the San Francisco Chronicle, McCarron made the remark with respect to Mickelson’s use of the Ping Eye 2 wedge. The club features squared grooves - exactly the kind of club banned all around the world as of January 1. Mickelson is only one of several players who are using the club at this week’s tournament. This is technically legal because of a loophole in the new equipment rules arising from a lawsuit in the 1980s.
All major professional golf organizations have banned the use of squared grooves in order to make it more difficult for players to spin the ball out of the rough and thereby make it more important to hit the fairway of the tee.
However, McCarron stated that using the club was “against the spirit of the game” and that the rule should be changed immediately. Several TV commentators reacted by pointing out that McCarron himself might be acting against the spirit of the game by using a belly putter.
When asked about McCarron’s statement Mickelson agreed that the “rule is ridiculous and that it should be changed”. But he insisted that using the pre-1990 club isn’t cheating and that “it isn’t my job [...] to interpret the intent of the rule”.
How do you feel about the new groove rule and Scott McCarron’s statement? Do you think that Phil should stop using a club he had in his bag for over a decade? Do you feel that the USGA and/or the PGA Tour need to make further changes to their rules? Please use the comment function to share your thoughts.
January 30th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Imagine Bobby Jones seeking such an advantage. Shame.
January 30th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Phil- You are a great lefty golfer & you don’t need the old irons. Phil-you should donate your old irons to charity & let the charity auction the irons to the highest bidder.If you need a great charity,we have the Desert Cancer Foundation in Palm Desert,which would welcome your irons as a donation & would get needed funds to pay the medical bills of the unfortunate in the Coachella Valley.Our Charity Dinner, Auction & Golf tourney is on April 18&19,2010 @ Indian Ridge Country Club & we would welcome your irons & naturally you, if you could surprise us. Good luck & good health to you & your family. Bob Schenkman,(a lefty like you)Charity Co-Chairman
January 31st, 2010 at 2:15 am
Phil if its technicaly legal to use the clubs then the other pro’s should also use these clubs if they think this will help them compete with you. Rules are rules as long as you play by the rules then I don’t see the problem.
Sam
January 31st, 2010 at 8:32 am
Phil I think you will look back at this one day and realize itr was a bad decision and not with in the “spirit of the game”. I cant believe with your talent you need to stoop to this level.
January 31st, 2010 at 10:36 am
If Phil is in the wrong they would stop his use of that club. As far as spirit of the game goes, there are few more spirited players than Phil. So I guess if everyone is so bummed out about his superior equipment, that being a 20 year old wedge, better get in line at ebay. They sell em everyday.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Just because Phil can play those square grooves, doesn’t mean he has to. Arnold Palmer would probably say “I won’t play the square grooves if nobody else can. He just should just do what’s right in the spirit of the game.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Phil, if Scott McCarron falsely accused you of cheating he’s wrong then he should pay a severe penalty. As far as the wedges, if it’s legal to play with then they have two choices either purchase the same wedge or quit whining. If you wasent one of the Top Golfers this wouldn’t even be an issue. The “Spirit of the Game” is to relax, enjoy, and be competitive. Just do what you do best(win)and the rest just have to Suck it up…
February 1st, 2010 at 2:53 pm
What about the “Spirit of the Game” when Tiger had a boulder moved for him by fans.
The entourage of many famous golfers who make it difficult for others to compete with.
The Ryder Cup fiasco of Justin Leonard etc.etc.
There are many ways of using something to your advantage in the game of golf but in the case of the Ping club everyone has the right to use it or not regardless of your status as a golfer with the fans.
The game of golf is full of rules. If everyone played strictly by the rules we wouldn’t need marshalls to be called in to determine how far we could stretch them to our advantage.
The language used was inflammatory to say the least. Considering his status as a player representative I would be very concerned as to how he handles himself in his representation of the players with the PGA.
“The Spirit of the Game” sounds wonderful doesn’t it but lets not forget “Golf” is big business and every PGA player is fully aware of that fact.
Professional golf does not need this kind of press right now and someone of Mr. McCarron’s status should be very well aware of this fact.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:20 pm
A club is either a)Approved or b)Not Approved. Every club in Phil’s bag has been approved for play by the PGA and, therefore, there is no way that McCarron or anybody else should be using words like “cheater” There is no “spirit of the game”. There are only rules, and Phil has not broken any of them. McCarron should direct his immature vitriole at the appropriate target, the PGA, not Phil Mickelson. The rule is the problem, not Phil.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:52 pm
phil, i noticed that mr. mccarron mentioned that there were others that had the old clubs in their bags but never mentioned their names or called them “cheaters”. if you’re going to accuse one, you accuse them all otherwise shut up you cry baby. phil, look at it like this, it’s mind over matter. you shouldn’t mind because he doesn’t matter. and when was the last time he won a tournament?
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:27 am
Phil,
WHY do you want to use that old club? IF it does not give you an unfair advantage……then……WHY use it?
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:32 am
I’m heartbroken that you would stoop this low, Phil.
All the good will you had with fans like me is wiped away for what? You played the wedgwe like crap anyway,
At least Tiger did his cheating OFF the course. You and he are birds of a feather.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:38 pm
3 Feb.
The Player Association is at fault.
They have know about the rule and the exception from the beginning.If they had had a vote of the players before Jan 1 2010 asking: Do you agree not to take advantage of the grandfather clause if the majority of the players agree to do so?.
If the majority says yes then all players remain on equal footing. if it,s no the the PGA knows they have to do something before the start of 2010 season.
Now that there is nothing legal preventing it, the search for old clubs is on.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:41 am
ahh cmon the new groove regulation is crap anyways. If one person can use em EVERYONE can use em. Either way, anyone has right to use the same clubs. PLus, this regulation has hurt the manufacturers, who ultimately have a huge impact on the way golf is advertised and played(sponsored).
February 5th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Phil my family started investing in callaway when it was privatly held. I could not agree w/ you more this is not the time to divert money from company earnings to allow the usga to determine what golf clubs should be allowed thanks for your integrity as the national spokesperson for callaway. Doug