But this is precisely what happened on Saturday when Lee Westwood, the
European No 1, accused Phil Mickelson, the would-be world No 1 in place of
Tiger Woods, of "bending the rules" by drawing upon a
controversial 20-year-old club.
Mickelson has turned up at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego with a Ping
i2 wedge in the bag, a club featuring U-shaped grooves banned in favour of a
cleaner 'V' shape.
But a US lawsuit filed in 1993 means that Ping wedges manufactured before 1990
are technically exempt, and Mickelson, blessed with arguably the most gifted
short game in the sport, has not been shy to exploit the loophole – much to
the chagrin of fellow American Scott McCarron, who branded the tactic "cheating".
Westwood, observing the bizarre furore almost 10,000 miles away in Qatar, was
not quite so provocative.
"It's a very strong word to use, cheating," said Westwood, who has
used Ping clubs for 23 years, having grown up not far from the company's
factory in Gainsborough, Lincs. "I think it's not breaking the rules,
but it's bending them.
"It wouldn't be my choice to use them, but it's obviously not against the
rules or else he wouldn't do it. I could do it more than anybody else
because I have thousands of Ping wedges. I have the opportunity to do it and
I don't."
Paul Casey, who leads the Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club with Westwood
one shot behind, was disinclined to put his own spin on the issue.
He preferred to concentrate on a near-flawless third round of 66 that moved
him to 10 under par, alongside Bradley Dredge. Not bad for a player who
rates himself only 95 per cent fit after last year's rib injury.
"I think it's the best round at this course in four years so I can't say
anything bad," said the 32-year-old, who had previously missed three
consecutive cuts in Doha. "I'm not putting any pressure on myself for
the final day."
Casey glided through the first 14 holes in five under before an errant tee
shot at the 15th brought his solitary blemish of the day.
He spurned birdie chances at the 16th and the 18th, which would have enabled
him to claim the lead outright, but he stressed: "I don't have complete
range of motion. Every day it's getting better, which is exciting. I haven't
held back on any shot."
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