The pre-1990 Ping Eye2 wedges that were non-conforming but not illegal on the PGA Tour because of a legal loophole, will no longer be allowed, beginning March 29.
Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim announced Monday that Ping will waive its rights to a settlement that had kept the PGA Tour from banning the deeper, wider grooves that no longer meet USGA regulations.
"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," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.
A firestorm of controversy was ignited early this season when Phil Mickelson, one of a handful of players to use the old clubs, was branded a cheater by Scott McCarron.
Mickelson, however, was not the only one to take advantage of the loophole. Others included Fred Couples, Hunter Mahan and John Daly.
"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," Solheim said.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- Camilo Villegas' week started with one celebration, then ended with another.
Villegas shot a final-round 68 to win the Honda Classic by five shots Sunday over Anthony Kim, giving the Colombian his third PGA Tour victory.
He finished at 13-under 267, the lowest 72-hole score since the Honda moved to PGA National in 2007, four shots better than Y.E. Yang's winning total a year ago.
And Villegas made it look easy most of the way, too, capping his day with a 20-footer for birdie, then raising both hands skyward.
"It's been a long week, man," Villegas said. "But man, it's been a good one. I just loved every second of it."
Midway through his round, it seemed like Villegas could waltz to the win. He led by only two after Vijay Singh made a 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 fifth, but three straight birdies -- starting with a 25-footer on No. 8 -- sent Villegas to 15 under and six shots clear of the field.
Good thing he had that cushion, because the putter stopped working after that.
Fortunately for Villegas, no one made much of a run.
Let's hear it for the PGA Tour's Florida Swing -- home of golf's best nicknames.
At this week's Honda Classic, played in Palm Beach Gardens at PGA National, the "Bear Trap" awaits down the finishing stretch. Next week, the CA Championship goes to Doral Resort, where it will be played on a course called the "Blue Monster."
After that, it's on to Tampa for the Transitions Championship, played on Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course. That explains the three-hole finish tagged "the Snake Pit."
And finally, the name game comes to an end with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando's Bay Hill Club -- where the torturous finishing hole is guarded by a ball-gobbling hazard called "The Devil's Bathtub."
But don't be fooled. There's more to the next four weeks of golf than cleaver monikers. There's the guttural moans of the wounded tour pro.
"As far as quality golf courses in one state, it's pretty darn good," Zach Johnson said. "I don't know what would be better. These are pretty sweet."
The Golf Writers Association of America wants the PGA Tour to discipline John Daly.
Again.
After the Florida Times-Union published a story detailing Daly's history of punishments during 18 seasons on the PGA Tour -- including five suspensions, 21 charges for "failure to give best effort," and seven trips to alcohol rehabilitation -- the golfer retaliated in an odd way.
Daly asked followers of his Twitter account to call and criticize the writer of the story, and supplied the cell phone number.
"Here's the JERK who writes NON-NEWS article ... CALL & FLOOD his line & let's tell him how we feel," the post said.
The writer, Garry Smits, reported he received nearly 100 calls.
In a letter sent to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, GWAA president Vartan Kupelian said Daly's actions deserve punishment given the vindictive nature of his actions. Kupelian pointed out Smits was reporting on a matter that was public record.
Caddie Steve Williams Says He Didn't Know About Tiger's Affairs WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Tiger Woods' caddie said he knew nothing about the golfer's extramarital affairs and was angry with him over the scandal. Steve Williams told TV3's "60 Minutes" program Wednesday that he also is bitter at the reaction toward him from the media and members of the public.
"It's been the most difficult time of my life, no two ways about it, because every single person believed that I should know or did know or had something to do with it," Williams said. "I knew nothing, that's my answer. I don't have to clarify or extend that answer, I knew nothing."
The New Zealander, who has been Woods' caddie for 11 years, said he would have spoken up if he had known about the player's behavior.
"If the shoe was on someone else, I would say the same thing. It would be very difficult as a caddie not to know but I'm 100 percent telling you, I did not know, and that's that," he said. "I'm a straight-up sort of person. If I had known something was going on, the whistle would have been blown."
Williams said he was angry when revelations about Woods' private life emerged, but had not berated the player because he felt he needed a friend.
The PGA Tour's groove war is over.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- 
Let's hear it for the PGA Tour's Florida Swing -- home of golf's best nicknames.
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