Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Ron Paul, Rick Santorum Suggest Foul Play From Romney Campaign
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.
While the pre-1990 Ping clubs will no longer be legal on the PGA Tour, Solheim did not wave the company's legal rights in amateur events, including USGA championships.
"We've heard from a lot of loyal Ping Eye2 owners who were concerned that a resolution of the tour issue might also keep them from playing their Eye2s that were grandfathered as a result of the 1990 USGA settlement," Solheim said.
"I want to reassure those golfers that their clubs remain conforming in all amateur events played under the USGA Rules of Golf. The problem is solved on the PGA Tour and the integrity of the original agreements is unaffected."
Both the PGA Tour and Ping said they were pleased with an announcement by the USGA that it will be conducting a forum in the fall of 2010 in an effort to find ways to improve the equipment.
Debt Ceiling Showdown 2: Coming This Fall, In Time For The Election, Only Worse
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
Bomb Attacks Target Israeli Diplomats In India, Georgia
Updates On Whitney Houston's Autopsy
Obama Sending Ambitious Plan To Congress
Adele Wins Album Of The Year
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
DNC Pushed To Incorporate Marriage Equality Into Party Platform
It's Only Getting Worse: Economists' Latest Dire Prediction
In One U.S. City, Budget Cuts Leave Homeless Without Bathrooms, Water Overnight
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
Some AT&T Users' Download Speeds Could Slow By 99 Percent
Message To Young Conservatives: Pursue Journalism
Violent Protests Highlight Greece's Difficulty In Sticking To Bailout Deal
Quake Rocks Costa Rica
Country Considers Bills Lifting Gay-Marriage Ban
Michael Smerconish: A Response to Sean Hannity
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Talks Safety Net Benefits On CNN's 'Your Bottom Line'
GOP Bill Would Strip Workers Of Overtime, Minimum Wage Protections
Mitch McConnell Not Accepting Obama Compromise
