Ping gives up rights to deep-groove wedges at centre of Mickelson row

TIM Finchem, the PGA Tour Commissioner, has hailed the decision by a leading equipment manufacturer to put an end to the grooves controversy that led to Phil Mickelson being accused of "cheating".

To the huge relief of Finchem, the much-publicised matter was resolved earlier this week when John Solheim, the Ping chairman and chief executive, opted to waive his company's rights over 20-year-old wedges with square-shaped grooves as of 29 March.

"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 Finchem.

Solheim said the Phoenix-based company is waiving its right that had kept the PGA Tour from banning Ping Eye2 wedges made before 1 April, 1990, that have deeper, wide grooves – also known as U-grooves – no longer allowed under new USGA regulations.

Those wedges were allowed through a 1990 settlement from when Ping sued the PGA Tour and US Golf Association.

Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, John Daly and Fred Couples were among players who used the Ping wedges.

It had become such a divisive issue that Scott McCarron accused Mickelson of "cheating" by using the club.

Ping also said it will apply the waiver to the US Open, to be held this year at Pebble Beach.

The waiver takes effect the week after the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and will apply on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

It will not apply to amateur competitions.

In return for the waiver, Solheim is hopeful equipment companies will have a stronger voice when the USGA makes new rules. The USGA will hold a forum this autumn to improve the process of creating equipment regulations.

"I've been consistent in voicing my concerns over the last several years about the challenges of the current rule-making process and the needs to improve it to the benefit of golfers," Solheim said. "I am hopeful this will be a significant first step in realising this goal. Our goal is to help ensure innovation remains an important part of golf's tradition."

Solheim worked with his father, Ping founder Karsten Solheim, when the settlement was reached in 1990 that allowed for the square grooves in Ping irons manufactured until 1 April, 1990.

That settlement took precedence over new rules that changed the specifications in grooves, and eight players took advantage of the loophole.

Daly and Dean Wilson were the first players to use them at the Sony Open. Daly said he had collected more than a dozen wedges, while other players found them in the garage or from friends. They even became a hot item on eBay.

McCarron was among those who said while the wedges were allowed, it violated the spirit of the rule, and the issue became messy at Torrey Pines in January when he told the San Francisco Chronicle: "It's cheating, and I'm appalled Phil has put it in play."

Mickelson hinted at a lawsuit for being "publicly slandered", although McCarron later apologised.

Solheim confirmed several solutions were considered since meeting with USGA executives on 10 February in Dallas but felt that under the circumstances the PGA Tour and US Open waivers were the most appropriate ways to keep intact the spirit of his company's original USGA and PGA Tour agreements.

"We're thankful for Commissioner Finchem's understanding of our position and his role in helping bring about this resolution. We all believe it is in the best interests of golf," said Solheim.

"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.

"It keeps in place all of our other rights established in the 1993 PGA Tour settlement and the 1990 USGA settlement, including ensuring amateurs will continue to be able to play their pre-April 1990 Eye2s at all amateur events played under the USGA Rules of Golf."

It is likely that Mickelson will comment on the decision when he holds a pre-event press conference on the eve of his defence of the WGC-Ca Championship in Florida today.