Why does McCarron carry on like this?

I’m not sure why Scott McCarron is digging his heels in against Phil Mickelson and a handful of others using the Ping wedges with square grooves. I find it curious that no one else — to my knowledge, anyway – is stepping forward with similarly strong views. Remember? McCarron said those using the clubs are cheating, but he didn’t say they’re cheaters. That’s like me saying you stole something, but I’m not calling you a thief.

Mickelson nonetheless feels like he was slandered and hinted at legal action if the PGA doesn’t step in and do something. It could reprimand McCarron, fine him, suspend him, something like that.

If it sounds harsh to punish a man for speaking his mind, consider your own workplace. If an employee disparages another employee in a public forum, would the former skate without repercussion? What if he blasted the business’ CEO or top money-maker or top performer? And if the comments went deeper than just a personal attack and suggested the company condones unethical behavior in its ranks, wouldn’t that be cause for concern and action? He has the right to say it, and the PGA has a right to act in its own best interest.

Some friends pointed out that McCarron was the first, or among the first, to use a long putter on the PGA Tour, and many other players viewed it as outside the spirit of the game. So it’s odd that he’d be the one taking up this cause. Sure, he’s on a tour advisory council and someone stuck a microphone in his face, but, as said, he continues to push the issue when it might be best to let others take it over.

I saw where Ken Green was suspended in 1997 for 30 days for calling Hall-of-Famer Raymond Floyd a cheater. Green, a five-time tour winner, thought Floyd made an improper drop 10 years earlier at Doral. So there’s precedent on the PGA’s side. Whether the tour goes that far or even does anything remains to be seen.

My thought? Mickelson is playing within the rules. Can you imagine if we all were allowed to interpret golf’s rules as we saw fit? It’s black and white, and it’s up to the governing bodies to fix the mess.