PGA Tour set to ban clubs after Ping waives rights

Golf Betting Lines

03/08/2010 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The grandfathered wedges and irons used by Phil Mickelson and others this season will no longer be allowed on the PGA Tour after the company that makes them agreed to waive its rights from a decades-old lawsuit.

The waiver, announced Monday, means Ping's controversial Eye2 clubs will no longer be exempted from the new PGA Tour regulations banning clubs with square grooves.

"We all believe it is in the best interests of golf," John Solheim, chairman and chief executive of Ping, said in a release

The waiver goes into effect March 29 and will apply to the PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours. Following a request from the United States Golf Association, the waiver will also be applied to the U.S. Open.

"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.

Because of a 20-year-old settlement between Ping and the USGA, all EYE2 wedges made before April 1990 were exempted from the new rule that required players to switch to clubs with V-shaped grooves beginning this season.

The grooves regulation was implemented by the USGA to make it harder for players to control the ball out of the rough.

Mickelson carried an Eye2 wedge in his bag at Torrey Pines in January, prompting tour veteran Scott McCarron to accuse him of cheating. Other players, including John Daly, have also taken advantage of the loophole.

The waiver does not take all EYE2 irons and wedges out of competition. Clubs with grooves that conform to the new regulations will still be allowed. Ping said it has made EYE2 clubs with conforming grooves for several players.

Solheim said his company considered several solutions to the issue since meeting with USGA officials last month, but that waivers were the most appropriate way to honor the original competition agreements it had with the PGA Tour and USGA.

"The problem is solved on the PGA Tour and the integrity of the original agreements is unaffected," Solheim said, noting that the EYE2 clubs would still be allowed in amateur events played under USGA rules.

The USGA said it will conduct a forum later this year to discuss ways to improve the equipment rulemaking process.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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