PING AND PGA TOUR RESOLVE WEDGE ISSUE
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Following on from the controversy surrounding the use of Ping’s EYE2 wedge and irons on Tour, the manufacturer has waived its rights to prevent the clubs from being outlawed.
The law regarding wedge grooves changed at the start of the year, but a loophole in the legistlation allowed for Ping’s EYE2 wedge (made before April 1990) to be legal in competition and several players, including Phil Mickelson put it into play.
“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,” said PGA Tour Commisioner Tim Finchem.
Ping Supremo Solheim said: “We all believe it is in the best interests of golf. 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.”
But Ping and the Tour stated the waiver, which comes into effect on March 29th, does not take all EYE2 wedges and irons out of the players’ hands. At the request of several players, the manufacturer has made EYE2 wedges and irons with grooves that do conform to the new 2010 rule change.
