Watson Enters Wedge Debate

Eight-time major winner Tom Watson is the latest player to condemn the use of controversial 20-year-old wedges.

Last week's Farmers Insurance Open saw world number two Phil Mickelson take the decision to circumnavigate a new regulation prohibiting the use of a certain shape of groove.

Mickelson defended his decision, which has sparked criticism from some of his fellow players.

A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the issue between US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and several players ahead of this week's Northern Trust Open, and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington admits he is waiting on the result after testing the old Ping Eye 2 wedges.
Debate

American veteran Watson has now added his input to the debate, insisting that the use of the wedges should be outlawed.

"It is against the spirit of the game," said 60-year-old Watson, ahead of playing in the Dubai Desert Classic this week.

"Why would they want to do that? It doesn't make any sense to me. It doesn't make any sense at all.

"It doesn't look good for players to use them. I just don't think it is the right thing to do."

Ping clubs manufactured pre-1990 are technically exempt due to a loophole in the regulation introduced at the start of the year by golf's lawmakers, although that only applies on the US PGA Tour due to the related lawsuit taking place in America.

European number one Lee Westwood said: "It's not breaking the rules, but it's bending them." He also suggested compulsory checks be made to guarantee all players conform to the new regulations.

Limit

Watson, who is a five-time Open champion, is fully behind the introduction of the regulations which are there to limit the amount of spin players can impart on the ball, although he believes they could go further.

"They have already done the grooves, if I were commissioner, I would get rid of the big broom putter, that's not a stroke," said Watson.

"I'd reduce the size of the driver, that gets the sweet spot a little smaller.

"You mis-hit it and it's going 20 or 30 yards shorter rather than four yards short. And then I would reduce the ball by 10% how far it goes."

Watson, who won the opening event on the Champions Tour in Hawaii last month, is making his first outing at a regular European Tour event since the 1993 German Masters at Emirates Golf Club this week.