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Mccarron: I Didn't Call Lefty 'cheater'

"It's cheating, and I'm appalled Phil has put it in play," this saying by PGA Tour professional Scott McCarron might has enraged the world number two Phil Mickelson. According to CNN, Mickelson mounted a stout defense against accusations his “cheating” by using a 20-year-old wedge.

New rules introduced this year only allow for irons with V-shaped grooves, but because of a lawsuit filed by manufacturers Ping an exception has been made for wedges, with square grooves, which were made before April 1, 1990.

Mickelson is using one of those wedges at Torrey Pines this week and on Friday he was grilled about his use and McCarron reported comments.

PGA Tour has issued a statement to explain why the controversial Ping-Eye 2 wedges were approved for play, appearing to criticize McCarron for his comments.

"Because the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye 2 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," read the final paragraph of the statement.

"I understand approved or not approved. I didn't make this rule. I don't agree with the rule, but I'm abiding by it." Said Phil Mickelson.

Despite reports to the contrary, Scott McCarron would like to clear up his thoughts on Phil Mickelson: He never called his fellow player a "cheater."

Interviewed by CBS during its telecast of the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday, Mickelson maintained that he had been "publicly slandered" by McCarron. He later addressed the situation further, saying, "Again, everybody has their opinions and so forth, and it's healthy to talk about it. But when you cross that line and slander someone publicly, that's when the tour needs to step in -- or someone else."

There will be a player meeting on Tuesday at Riviera Country Club, site of this week's Northern Trust Open, during which this topic is expected to be discussed.

"The USGA and the PGA Tour were made aware of this potential issue by its players last year," McCarron added. "Instead of acting or addressing the matter, the tour chose to put the onus to comply on its players. Unfortunately, a handful of players have chosen not to comply and that is what has led to this current ordeal.

"In my opinion, as a 16-year veteran of the PGA Tour and a member of the tour's Player Advisory Council, the tour must now put a rule in place to protect the field and ban these wedges," he said. "Most of the players on the PGA Tour feel the loophole in this rule needs to be closed."

Square grooves no longer are allowed on the PGA Tour because of a new USGA policy effective this year that requires grooves in irons to be a more shallow V-shape, which generates less spin.

However, the Ping-Eye 2 wedges made before April 1, 1990, are approved for competition because of a lawsuit that Ping settled with the PGA Tour and USGA some 20 years ago.

It has not been proved whether the grooves of a 20-year-old golf club -- Mickelson played them in college at Arizona State and found this wedge in his garage -- spin more than V-shaped grooves made with today's technology.

In addition to Mickelson, other players who have employed the Ping clubs so far this season include Hunter Mahnn, John Daly and Dean Wilson.

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