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Phil Mickelson: Catalyst for rule-change change?

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Phil Mickelson's use of an early Ping Eye2 wedge was as political as it was practical.

Phil Mickelson's use of an early Ping Eye2 wedge was as political as it was practical.

Lost somewhat in the news that all those 20-year-old Ping Eye2 irons and wedges now see their PGA Tour days numbered is the U.S. Golf Association’s agreement to review its rulemaking process.

The USGA will hold a forum next fall to discuss being more inclusive. Kudos to executive director David Fay, equipment chief Dick Rugge and the Golf House folks.

Also to Phil Mickelson?

It was Mickelson who became the center of the groove storm when he became one of the half-dozen or so players to put a pre-April 1990 Ping Eye2 club into play. Those clubs don’t conform to the USGA’s new standard, but are grandfathered in as the result of two 1990s court settlements.

Scott McCarron singled out Mickelson in San Diego for “cheating,” Mickelson said he was a victim of “slander” and the tiff carried headlines for a week.

One week later in Los Angeles, Mickelson said the personal disagreement had been hashed out — but took a swipe at the USGA for a rulemaking process he said does not seek input from others with a stake in the game.

“This type of lack of transparency has got to change. It’s killing the sport,” Mickelson said then. “It’s killing the manufacturers [and] the players. We don’t understand the rule, and it needs to be changed.”

One month later, the door has been opened.

“Sometimes the things they recommend are pretty difficult to get done, as well as the time frames they want us to get things done in,” said Ping chairman John Solheim. “Being able to voice our opinion on that and let them understand it means a lot to us.”


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