Notebook: Wedge Controversy Another Black Eye for Sport

A week of notes, quotes and gossip from the world of golf ...

PGA Tour brass did not do themselves proud with their handling of the Ping Eye2 controversy, created by Phil Mickelson and a handful of others using a legal loophole to play the non-conforming pre-1990 wedges.

Although acknowledging he was long ago aware of the avenue to skirt the new groove design rule, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said it was decided there would be no advantage gained by playing the clubs.

Obviously, Scott McCarron disagrees, and suggested anyone using the club is cheating.

Mickelson responds by saying his reputation was slandered and suggests legal action. Brilliant! The tour finally figured a way to make people quit talking about Tiger Woods.

"It's ridiculous, isn't it?" Ernie Els said. "You know, basically, all the governing bodies stood back and basically let the players handle the whole issue again. It's almost a little too late now because all the damage has been done already. Some players have spoken out against other players, which we don't want to see out here on tour, and it's unfortunate.

"There always seem to be good lessons, but we kind of play catch-up. So I'm a little disappointed about that."

Grip It and Market It

OK, John Daly didn't retire. (Stunning). The troubled golfer overreacted (and so did the news reports) by saying he was giving up after shooting 79-71 at Torrey Pines last week to miss another cut.

Now, according to Daly, he's not playing well because he's out of money and under too much pressure.

That would help explain Mr. Grip It and Rip It's newest plan. Daly says he hopes to market his own lines of tequila and salsa.

The tequila: "Grip it and sip it."

The salsa: "Grip it and dip it."

Is anyone else worried about a lingering aftertaste?

Saying Nothing

Jim Thorpe, the Champions Tour player sentenced to one-year in prison for failing to pay more than $2 million in income taxes, must report to federal authorities by April 1.

Until then Thorpe (right) says he would like to play in at least four senior tour events, in the hope of earning money to begin paying off his debt.

The tour isn't saying anything, which is bad news for Thorpe.

Tour policy is to not comment on suspensions, so if it is declining to comment on Thorpe it suggests he has been suspended.

More good logic from Ponte Vedra Beach.

Weiskopf: Suits Scared of Suits

Tom Weiskopf, the 16-time PGA Tour winner and golf course designer, came down hard on the USGA and R&A recently during a conversation with Golf Channel.com.

On the subject of the new groove design rules, Weiskopf was asked if golf's two governing bodies were living up to their responsibilities. Apparently, he does not.

"What happened was their technology wasn't as good as the manufacturers'," Weiskopf said. "So the manufacturers turned the definition of rules concerning equipment to the finest line they could. It got away from the USGA and R&A. The ball got away from them.

"The ball is still the issue. It's the No. 1 component and element of the game that's transformed scoring since the feathery golf ball. Go through time, it's been the golf ball. This (new grooves rule) isn't going to wipe the mustard off their red, white and blue ties or brush the dandruff off their navy blue sport coats. They are not living up to their responsibility. They are afraid of a lawsuit.

"Let's get a tournament ball; every manufacturer can make it and let's go on with life. Then we won't have to build these golf courses that are 7,500 or 7,600 yards where nobody but the best who play the game can play them. They've eliminated so many classic golf courses from competition."

Going West

NBA great Jerry West is the new executive director of this week's Northern Trust Open being played at Los Angeles' Riviera CC.

West, 71, one of basketball's all-time greatest players for the Lakers before later serving as general manager, seems to be working similar heroics for the fourth-oldest event on the PGA Tour.

The field is one of the event's strongest in years, including Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Y.E. Yang and Stewart Cink.
"I'm not foolish enough to think I can make a difference myself," West said. "Sometimes, you can open up avenues that other people can't get into simply because people might recognize you or have respect for what you've accomplished in a completely different sport."

Watson Joins Tiger Hunt

Tom Watson is the latest to publicly criticize Tiger Woods, telling a Kansas City television station the star's actions have been "bad for our game."

"His golf is really secondary at this point," Watson said. "From his standpoint and his family's standpoint, it's something he needs to get control of ... and make some amends and show some humility to the public when he comes back."

Watson's harsh words, however, didn't stop with the issue of Woods' cheating on his wife. Watson then moved to on-course behavior.

"His swearing and his club-throwing, that should end," he said. "That's not part of what we want to project as far as the professional golf tour is concerned."