Daly and Wilson Use 20-year Old Wedges at Sony

[InTheHole]

Interesting article- looks like John Daly and Dean Wilson got "around" the new groove rule by pulling out 20 year old Ping wedges...

 

AP/PGA Tour Article

 

Hadn't thought of that angle!

[dalehead]

Very clever. I have a Ping Eye 2 BeCu sand and lob wedge like these. I wondered if they would be allowed under the new rule because they were grandfathered in perpetuity when the USGA made their groove change rule 20 years ago. Wonder if we'll see other tour players going this route.

[Rohlio]

That is phenomenal.

There is going to be some wonderful litigation about this stupid rule. The precedent that Ping has from that lawsuit is going to end up being very important I am sure.

The only real question is what percentage of our annual dues money is going to be spent defending a rule that bones everyone (albeit most of us are just getting boned sometime in the future; so no reason to worry about it now (sounds a lot like social security rhetoric)).

The real travesty of this whole rule is that every time somebody fails to get up and down this year we are going to hear a sentence with this formation "Well with the new groove rule this year...." I am already sick of it.

[rafal]

<---- Hi there....I am a 20 yr old SW, and I am here to help

[InTheHole]

Doesn't look like it helped Daly too much today- he's 3-over par after round 1. Wilson is 1 over thru 16. Both will be flirting with the cut line come Friday.

They may proove it doesn't matter...

[OldSkoolTexan]

I remember Calc & Mahan bagging those L wedges last year so Im sure they are still gaming them as well. I surprised to see Mahan with one but Calc has used those since they were first released Im sure.

[luxman]

[quote name='dalehead' date='14 January 2010 - 09:04 PM' timestamp='1263521078' post='2182121']
Very clever. I have a Ping Eye 2 BeCu sand and lob wedge like these. I wondered if they would be allowed under the new rule because they were grandfathered in perpetuity when the USGA made their groove change rule 20 years ago. Wonder if we'll see other tour players going this route.
[/quote]

The short answer is as long as they are the original Ping Eye 2 and not the Ping Eye 2+ they are legal.

"In accordance with previous agreements, clubs manufactured before March 31, 1990 that meet the criteria of USGA Decision USGA/4-1/100, such as the Ping Eye 2, will be treated by the USGA as conforming to the Rules of Golf and will continue to be acceptable for all USGA competitions."

[Need4spd]

I find this pretty humorous for some reason. Very clever indeed though.

[Sid Vicious]

On a related note, I'm trying to find out if my 1990 model Wilson Staff Goose Necks are legal. No word from Wilson or the USGA. Anyone have any idea?