PING CEO: No Local Rule
Tuesday's Tim Finchem afternoon press conference ought to be interesting in light of the statement released by PING CEO John Solheim tonight, and because Finchem is meeting with us scribblers before the player meeting.
The meat of the Solheim statement:
In 1993, the PGA Tour agreed they “will not in the future adopt or attempt to adopt any separate PGA Tour rule which would prohibit the use of U-grooves on any golf club if such PGA Tour rule differed from a USGA rule.”
When the USGA proposed the New Groove Rule more than two years ago, we reminded them of their agreement relative to the PING EYE2 irons. At the time, I was vehemently against any new groove rule for a variety of reasons and advised both the
USGA and PGA Tour in a letter dated July 31, 2007 that what is happening on the PGA Tour today was very much a possibility.
The recent statement from the PGA Tour and several PGA Tour players that they could invoke a “local rule” required us to remind the PGA Tour of the terms of the agreement which prohibits them from straying from a rule that “differed from a USGA rule.”
While I fully expect the PGA Tour to honor this agreement, I’m willing to discuss a workable solution to this matter that would benefit the game and respect the role innovation has played over the long history of golf.”
A workable solution? Does he want money?
Meanwhile, the tour has said invoking a local rule in this case is possible.
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 08:48 PM
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Reader Comments (14)
Simple!
Because I am suggesting that if there wasn't a single discussion about the grandfathered Pings then this is easily shaping up to go down as the single biggest mistake ever propogated in the post Deane Beman era of golf MIS-management in the entire history of the game.
What a joke the ruling powers have become. Simply more evidence that they are ALL overpaid, overly self important, and completely incapable of doing their jobs of supervising professional golf tournaments.
...lot of good that did them.
We join the production in Act III.
To recap:
In Act I, the USGA settles the Ping Eye2 lawsuit with Ping and the PGA Tour agrees to play along.
In Act II, the USGA decides to revise groove specifications and unleashes the Specter of Bifurcation across the golf landscape.
Act III, Scene I
John Daly, a shadow of his former self, both literally and figuratively, and several other pro golfers haul their old Ping wedges out of the closet and rattle them in the face of the Spirit of the Game.
Act II, Scene II
Scott McCarron defends the Spirit of the Game with harsh words for fellow pro, Phil Mickelson, despite the fact the McCarron himself wields a long putter that he anchors to his body, a technique viewed by some purists as a contravention of the Spirit of the Game.
Act III, Scene III
Phil offers up a confusing defense of his use of old Ping wedges, despite his role as a spokesperson for Callaway equipment. Or perhaps Phil speaks up to spite the USGA. The plot thickens...
Act III, Scene IV
The action shifts to Riviera in Los Angles, where Ben Hogan's ghost still haunts the fairways, his stern, no-nonsense visage a reminder of the days when equipment was more art than science, course conditions were often spotty and pro golfers who could shape their shots were held in the highest esteem.
The Commissioner of the PGA Tour enters to address the scribes; there is one representing all the nation's newspapers. A few magazine reporters are present. Mostly the scribes represent electronic media.
The Commissioner: I just want to say...
Unintended Consequences ( An amorphous swirl of sooty fog, discordant noise and a sulfurous odor interrupts The Commissioner): Your words are useless. I am in charge here (Somewhere, Alexander Haig wears a bittersweet smile). Every change in golf -- from featheries to gutties, Haskells to balata and multi-layer golf balls, from hickory shafts to stainless steel and graphite, and from fast and firm conditions to the artificial perfection of ANGC -- has demonstrated my power.
The Commissioner: But this time, it'll be different.
Unintended Consequences: Buhwa-haw-haw!
and phil is notoriously fickle and is addicted to equipment contract money. this is a blip
The Old Man
Agreed. But who will sue over a standardized ball? The players? The manufacturers? Us public golfers could still buy the latest-and-greatest-goes-300-yards-straight-even-if-you-stink balls. Just not the pros. Many sports has some level of bifurcation from the plebians. Why not golf? Last I checked, pro baseball players still play with wooden bats. Pro hockey players still play without a full cage over their face. Pro quarterbacks still don't use mouthguards. So why not a standarized ball? Why? Anyone.