INCAgolf All you ever wanted to know about golf (well almost)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Can the PGA Tour stop Phil Mickelson, John Daly and other players from carrying square-grooved Ping Eye 2 wedges that were manufactured from 1984 until April 1, 1990, even though U.S. Golf Association rules specifically allow the use of these wedges?

Maybe, although it wouldn’t be easy.

Here’s why: In 1993, the PGA Tour agreed to settle a lawsuit over square grooves that was initiated by Ping (the USGA already had settled in 1990). As part of the settlement, the Tour agreed to follow all USGA rules, including the one that grandfathers the use of Eye 2 irons and wedges from the 1984-2000 time period.

Mickelson, Daly and other players, confronted with the new 2010 condition of competition requiring touring pros to use smaller, lower-spinning grooves, decided to experiment with the old Ping Eye 2 wedges from that six-year manufacturing window.

Why? Because some of the wedges contain grooves that not only are square, but also contain exceptionally sharp edges. It is these groove edges that are responsible for most of the spin generated by these famously high-spinning wedges.

“There are multiple different shapes to different U grooves (square grooves),” said Ping CEO John Solheim …

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