Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends
The PGA Tour’s groove war is over.
The pre-1990 Ping Eye2 wedges that were non-conforming but not illegal on the PGA Tour because of a legal loophole, will no longer be allowed, beginning March 29.
Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim announced Monday that Ping will waive its rights to a settlement that had kept the PGA Tour from banning the deeper, wider grooves that no longer meet USGA regulations.
“John Solheim and Ping had a terrific opportunity to do something very positive and significant for the game of golf and we very much appreciate his willingness to take this action,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.
A firestorm of controversy was ignited early this season when Phil Mickelson, one of a handful of players to use the old clubs, was branded a cheater by Scott McCarron.
Mickelson, however, was not the only one to take advantage of the loophole. Others included Fred Couples, Hunter Mahan and John Daly.
“It levels the playing field on the PGA Tour and resolves a very unfortunate situation that we predicted would happen when the USGA first proposed the new groove rule more than two years ago,” Solheim said.
Admitting PGA Tour leadership never saw the controversy coming, 
SAN DIEGO — 
