Phil Mickelson to stop using controversial golf club | Briefs

Golf

Mickelson accepts apology, won't use wedge: Phil Mickelson won't be using the Ping Eye2 wedge that led a fellow player to accuse him of "cheating," even though he hopes others will use the controversial club to keep attention on what he calls a ridiculous rule.

"I won't be playing that wedge. My point has been made," Mickelson said Wednesday on the eve of his two-time title defense at Riviera in Los Angeles. "But if these governing bodies cannot get together to fix this loophole, if players stop using this wedge — which would stop the pressure of the issue — then I will relook at it and put the wedge back in play."

The Ping wedge has grooves that no longer conform under a new USGA regulation, adopted by the PGA Tour. However, any Ping wedge made before April 1, 1990, is approved for play under a legal settlement from two decades ago.

Mickelson is among five players who have used the Ping wedge in competition this year.

Several players believe using the club goes against the spirit of the new grooves regulation, though Scott McCarron fueled the debate when he said of Mickelson and others, "It's cheating."

Mickelson hinted at legal action after saying he was "publicly slandered." He said McCarron offered him a sincere apology Tuesday night, which he accepted.

"We all make mistakes, and we all say things we wish we could take back," Mickelson said. "I've done it a bunch in my career. And the fact that it's also not easy to come up and face that person, look them in the eye and apologize. ... I appreciate him being a big enough man to do that."

Baseball

Tigers, Verlander agree to $80M deal: Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, The Associated Press reported.

Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3.45 earned-run average last season. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in four full seasons with the Tigers.

The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration. When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5 million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million.

Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative contract than Felix Hernandez. The Mariners gave their ace a $78 million, five-year deal. Verlander turns 27 this month and Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.

Detroit's decision to keep Verlander with a long-term deal backs up the franchise's claim it is committed to spending money to stay competitive.

Soccer

Portland council approves stadium plan: The Portland City Council has approved a $31 million plan to remodel PGE Park. Major League Soccer awarded Portland an expansion franchise to start play in 2011, with the understanding that the multipurpose stadium would be converted into a soccer-first venue.

Beasley's car blown up in Glasgow: United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley's BMW has been set on fire outside his home in Glasgow. The incident happened Monday in the Scottish city.

Defoe hat trick gives Spurs FA Cup win at Leeds: Jermain Defoe scored three goals, leading Tottenham into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over third-tier Leeds.

U.S. midfielder injured: American midfielder Ricardo Clark pulled a muscle in his right calf, delaying his Bundesliga debut by up to four weeks and putting him in doubt for the United States' exhibition game at the Netherlands on May 3.

Boxing

Mayweather to fight Mosley: Floyd Mayweather Jr. finalized a deal to fight Sugar Shane Mosley on May 1 in a welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) agreed to the 12-round bout last week, but hadn't formally signed the contract for his second fight back from a brief retirement. The fight is an intriguing matchup between two veteran welterweights who have been circling each other for a decade. Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) remains dangerous.

NHL

Blue Jackets fire coach: The Columbus Blue Jackets fired defensive-minded coach Ken Hitchcock, less than a year after the club made the postseason for the first time. Assistant coach Claude Noel was chosen to lead the team on an interim basis. Columbus stands 14th of the 15 teams in the Western Conference with a 22-27-9 record and 53 points.

Hurricanes place Ruutu on IR: The Carolina Hurricanes activated defenseman Joe Corvo while placing forward Tuomo Ruutu on injured reserve with an upper-body injury suffered in a fight against Colorado's Darcy Tucker on Jan. 8.

U.S. Olympic defenseman to miss Games: U.S. Olympic defenseman Mike Komisarek of the Toronto Maple Leafs will have shoulder surgery that will knock him out of the Vancouver Games and the rest of the NHL season.

Olympics

Jamaica out of bobsled: Jamaica's bid to have its bobsled team compete in this month's Olympics has come up short. The list of nations who qualified and entered bobsled events at the Vancouver Games failed to include Jamaica.

WNBA

Mercury re-signs coach: Phoenix Mercury coach Corey Gaines, who guided the team to its second WNBA championship in three years last season, has been re-signed to a one-year contract.

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