Scott McCarron will ‘not be silenced’ in row over controversial golf club

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Scott McCarron is still disputing what the PGA considers a legal club.

After accusing Phil Mickelson of cheating for using a square-grooved wedge at Torrey Pines last week, McCarron said Monday he will ‘not be silenced’ until the issue is resolved.

[Updated at 10:35 a.m.: ‘I am still appalled by the fact that any player would make the choice to put this controversial wedge in play, and I stand by my previous comments,’ McCarron said.]

Mickelson was using a Ping-Eye 2 wedge made before April 1, 1990, which is considered legal by the PGA following a lawsuit settlement reached among Ping, the PGA and the USGA nearly two decades ago.

Mickelson said he has been ‘publicly slandered’ by McCarron’s allegation. Over the weekend, the PGA announced that the club was legal and that ‘public comments of criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best.’

Still, there are some critics who believe Mickelson was disobeying the spirit of the rules by using a wedge with square grooves.

PGA commissioner Tim Finchem plans to discuss the issue with players Tuesday at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.

McCarron missed the cut at Torrey Pines, and Mickelson fell out contention after bogeying on the first three holes of the final round.

-- Austin Knoblauch

The Associated Press contributed to this report.