USGA "looking into" PING Issue

[Tony Covey MGS]

Citing as evidence the fact that 3 of the 4 semi-finalists for last weeks' WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships are on staff with, and play PING golf clubs, the USGA is now said to be investigating whether the use of PING golf clubs provides golfers with an unfair advantage during competition.

 

While it's true that finalist Rory McIlroy is a member of Titleist's tour staff, members of the USGA rules committee believe his appearance in the final match was an isolated incident of talent trumping equipment.

 

According to a source within the USGA, "The presence of PING staffers Mr. Westwood, Mr. Wilson, and Champion Mr. Mahan in the finals of our only PGA Match Play event is a clear indicator that PING's commitment to building highly engineered golf clubs has clearly provided its staff members with an unfair advantage in these competitions. While perhaps we've chased our tails far too long with both the groove issue, and the belly putter mess, it is now clear to us that it's actually the use of PING golf clubs that poses the most clear and present danger to the integrity of our game".

 

Asked if the potential ban of PING golf clubs might impact amateurs and open the door for bifurcation, the USGA spokesperson responded, "Nonesense. Bifurcation is simply not on the table at this time. If we ultimately rule all PING golf clubs non-conforming, amateurs, like their professional counterparts, will be required to refrain from using any PING club. Anyone caught in violation of the new rule would risk having their USGA membership revoked, and could potentially be barred from maintaining a USGA handicap; thus making them ineligible for most local tournaments and other club events.

 

When asked to comment, a spokesman for the R&A told us, "Although we have not suffered the same scourge of PING dominance on our soil, it may only be a matter of time. Like the USGA, we too view bifurcation as a threat to the sanctity of our game; both between pros and amateurs as well as between our two continents. We're simply not willing to open the door for even the remotest possibility of tri or, dare I even speak it, quadfurcation of the rules. For these reasons, we have offered the USGA our full, and unconditional support in this matter".

 

A decision is expected before the start of this weeks' Honda Classic.

[GolfSpy WD]

so...any reason WHY Ping clubs are unfair? Perhaps the golfers wielding the clubs were just really good?

[JBones]

According to a source within the USGA, "The presence of PING staffers Mr. Westwood, Mr. Wilson, and Champion Mr. Mahan in the finals of our only PGA Match Play event is a clear indicator that PING's commitment to building highly engineered golf clubs has clearly provided its staff members with an unfair advantage in these competitions. While perhaps we've chased our tails far too long with both the groove issue, and the belly putter mess, it is now clear to us that it's actually the use of PING golf clubs that poses the most clear and present danger to the integrity of our game".

Is this for real or are you making this up? It's too ridiculous to be real. If that comment is 100% real, then it proves just how ignorant the USGA is. Weren't they all playing Pro V's, maybe that is the problem? Or maybe, God forbid, they just out played everyone else. Lee and Rory are two of the top players in the world, so lets throw them to the side, I mean they were 1 seeds for a reason. How were Wilson and Mahan successful; simple, they kept the ball in play and putted extremely well. Thats the EXACT same way anyone else wins on the PGA Tour. I don't think Wilson hit a single shot out into the desert and I know I've never seen Mahan putt so well. Blaming in on PING is just absurd.

[GolfSpy WD]

Asked if the potential ban of PING golf clubs might impact amateurs and open the door for bifurcation, the USGA spokesperson responded, "Nonesense. Bifurcation is simply not on the table at this time. If we ultimately rule all PING golf clubs non-conforming, amateurs, like their professional counterparts, will be required to refrain from using any PING club. Anyone caught in violation of the new rule would risk having their USGA membership revoked, and could potentially be barred from maintaining a USGA handicap; thus making them ineligible for most local tournaments and other club events.

 

If this isn't fake, then this shows how little the USGA cares about amateurs...

[Tony Covey MGS]

Just to make sure this doesn't get out of hand...

 

I made it all up. Every word. The goal was to illustrate the absurdity of the USGA"s penchant for viewing every little equipment-related thing that happens on the course as a potential threat to the integrity of the game.

 

Belly putters, grooves...and a weeks' worth of PING dominance it is all, as they would say in the places where the R&A is the law of the land, bollocks.

[JBones]

I thought that was a little too absurd to be true. It wouldn't really have surprised me that much if it was true though.

[Tony Covey MGS]

I thought that was a little too absurd to be true. It wouldn't really have surprised me that much if it was true though.

 

The really sad part is, it probably was only a little too absurd, by USGA standards anyway..

[RoverRick]

You know the guy that won our club championship was playing Pings. I thought there had to me more to it than the fact that he is a +3 handicap. It is his clubs. It was also match play.

As for these three, while they all play Ping, they play different Pings. Besides, Ping hopes that they investigate them. What a commercial this would make? Playing Ping clubs gives you an unfair competitive advantage. TMag is saying, damned how can we get the USGA to say our clubs give an unfair advantage.

[Jmikecpa]

Just to make sure this doesn't get out of hand...

 

I made it all up. Every word. The goal was to illustrate the absurdity of the USGA"s penchant for viewing every little equipment-related thing that happens on the course as a potential threat to the integrity of the game.

 

Belly putters, grooves...and a weeks' worth of PING dominance it is all, as they would say in the places where the R&A is the law of the land, bollocks.

 

And it was pure genius. Well done.

[GolfSpy WD]

Just to make sure this doesn't get out of hand...

 

I made it all up. Every word. The goal was to illustrate the absurdity of the USGA"s penchant for viewing every little equipment-related thing that happens on the course as a potential threat to the integrity of the game.

 

Belly putters, grooves...and a weeks' worth of PING dominance it is all, as they would say in the places where the R&A is the law of the land, bollocks.

 

Ever consider a job in the PR department of the USGA? I was kind of hoping there was something Ping was doing and getting away with. Oh well...

[RoverRick]

This was so plausible because this Sunday Ping not only took 1, 3, & 4 at match play but Huh also played Ping as did the LPGA winner, Angie Stanford.

[SeeRed]

The really sad part is, it probably was only a little too absurd, by USGA standards anyway..

I was thinking the same. Not too far off the mark to set the hook. Well done.

[JMiller]

Belly putters, grooves...

 

I happen to agree with the Groove rule change now 2 years later. I also happen to think that 'long putters' that get anchored to any part of the body other then the palm of your hands should be banned. I can see why some people would want to use one if they have back issues or something. That is not my point at all, the point is more on the elite level of golf.

 

Now take a look at Adam Scott the guy is my age and has a putter bigger then his driver in the bag. When he first came on tour he putted really well with a standard putter. He got into putting terribly and instead of putting in practice time he went to a 'quick fix' by anchoring the putter to his body it eliminated whatever mistakes that he was making.

 

You have been seeing tiger struggle lately with the putter, I hope like hell he never picks up a long putter. But honestly since he is a hard worker on his game he will put in the time in practice putting for sure to stay in the short putter. You can disagree with me all you want bu the number one reason people go to a long putter is 1) back issues 2) quick fix for a bad putting stroke with a short one.