Equipment

TaylorMade’s Tom Olsavsky to join Cobra-Puma Golf

Published

10 years ago

Oct 29, 2013

Tom Olsavsky, senior director of product creation at TaylorMade, will replace Tom Preece as the vice president of research and development for Cobra-Puma Golf.

Olsavsky, 49, spent 17 years at TaylorMade, the last seven in his current role. Many in the industry consider Olsavsky to be a big part of TaylorMade’s recent success, which includes record sales of $1.7 billion and a 47 percent market share in the metalwood category in 2012.

According to sources close to the matter, Olsavsky’s signing is considered a “big win” by top Cobra-Puma officials, who have struggled to establish Cobra as a true rival to larger golf equipment companies such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, Ping and Titleist, whose parent company Acushnet sold Cobra to Puma SE in March 2010.

“Tom is a great industry talent and we look forward to him continuing Cobra Golf’s innovation of the game,” said Bob Philion, president of Cobra-Puma Golf in a statement. “His wealth of experience, industry knowledge and exceptional success will help us to continue our development of industry leading technologies. I’m confident that Tom will play a key role in our business growth and provide a great future for Cobra Golf.”

Preece decided to leave Cobra-Puma in September after spending almost 10 years with the company. He is currently listed as the Senior Vice President of R&D at BST Nano Carbon, a company based in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. that specializes in designing and manufacturing products from carbon nano tube materials. According to sources, Preece will stay on with Cobra-Puma as a consultant through the end of the year. Olsavsky is scheduled to begin his duties with Cobra-Puma on Oct. 31.

TaylorMade has chosen Brian Bazzel, who has 14 years of experience with the company, to fill Olsavsky’s post as senior director of product creation for metal woods. Bazzel previously worked as the director of product creation for irons, wedges and putters, a role that will be filled by Tomo Bystedt, who most recently oversaw TaylorMade’s Asian product and marketing operation.

“Tom Olsavsky was part of the TaylorMade family for the better part of 15 years,” said Sean Toulon, TaylorMade’s executive vice president, in a statement. “As individuals, and as an organization, we wish Tom the best of luck in his new endeavor. He will be missed. With that said, TaylorMade’s R&D will continue to operate under the expert leadership of Benoit Vincent, who has overseen every meaningful innovation TaylorMade has produced in the past decade. Our product creation team also consists of a very deep bench.”

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Related Topics:Cobra irons TaylorMade

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19 Comments

YtownFHS

Nov 12, 2013 at 12:09 pm

TO will be an awesome addition to Cobra. His engineering/ golf knowledge will be the lift Cobra needs

Reply Report comment
Dolph Lundgrenade

Nov 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm

King Cobra III irons to be released in the Spring!

Seriously though, what will they do next to metalwoods? Put aerodynamic holes (cylinder tubes)that run through the face to the back? Something like a good hazing paddle!

Nah, I expect the next Cobra line to have more graphics on the top. Because… that will help.

Reply Report comment
Jack

Nov 4, 2013 at 4:21 am

Maybe Cobra products will start to look better too. Bit too curvy right now (from the logo to driver sole plate) for my liking.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Oct 31, 2013 at 11:58 pm

Great, so can we expect to see amp cell phase 3 with a velocity hole in it???? Or a patented AMP grass trap??

Reply Report comment
Andrew

Oct 30, 2013 at 10:10 pm

Why is GolfWRX writing this piece? Is it precedent for every exec that switches horses? IMHO, you would do well to stay out of manufacturer politics…

Reply Report comment
- Charlie
  
  Oct 31, 2013 at 9:03 am
  
  Why not write about this? A friend of mine is always telling me stuff like this and he calls it ” a little human interest story” . It is relevant and informative yet not earthshaking.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Slim
  
  Oct 31, 2013 at 4:41 pm
  
  I liked this article – interesting info.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jack
  
  Nov 4, 2013 at 4:18 am
  
  It’s industry insider information. Fun stuff! Next logical step to all the golf equipment being made is to pay attention to the people responsible in making it.
  
  Reply Report comment
totebagger

Oct 30, 2013 at 10:11 am

he’s totebaggin around. what a goon

Reply Report comment
- R
  
  Oct 30, 2013 at 7:42 pm
  
  So you are still in your original job and have never taken a promotion or moved within your chosen occupation (or career path) for something better (financially or otherwise)???
  
  Hmmm – Senior Director vs. VP role.
  I wonder what I would do?
  It sounds like you wouldn’t even consider it.
  
  So, NO – I do not want fries with that.
  
  What a doofus…dumbest comment I’ve seen in a VERY long time.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - It's Called a PROMOTION
    
    Oct 31, 2013 at 1:29 pm
    
    grocery totebagger obviously isn’t smart enough to have a real job, much less a “career”. He has no clue what you’re talking about. Career advancement? What is that??
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Jack
    
    Nov 4, 2013 at 4:20 am
    
    I thought director was higher than VP? Or I’m thinking managing director. it’s also different for different companies/industries.
    
    Reply Report comment
M

Oct 30, 2013 at 6:44 am

So i guess know they are going to have something out every 6 months

Reply Report comment
Charles Damascus

Oct 29, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Judas!!!!

Reply Report comment
FredWomble

Oct 29, 2013 at 11:27 am

I hope he’s left the gimmicks behind. Not that CPG can’t stand improvement — significant imo — but their players’ irons, S3 Pro and APC of late, are fine sticks. Had the S3 Pro, now game APC and they are great clubs.

Reply Report comment
Fan of T.O.

Oct 29, 2013 at 11:07 am

Great move by T.O.

TaylorMade, from a company culture, is a very cut-throat organization. Huge egos, huge pressure and huge demand every single day.

T.O. probably got courted heavily by Cobra/Puma. And rightly so. He definitely knows what he is doing but there was always a glass ceiling for him at TaylorMade.

Now with Cobra, he will have more money, more decision making power and a higher level of influence and respect. And probably a better work environment.

I am excited to see his influence on Cobra equipment. Because, let’s be honest, the stuff may work fine, but they’re not the most appealing clubs out there, nor are they at the forefront of club innovation.

Reply Report comment
froneputt

Oct 29, 2013 at 5:54 am

TM probably has 5 years of R&D in the pipeline. Of course, Olsavsky knows what it is, so TM may have to speed up the more advanced product to introduction.

Reply Report comment
Lloyd

Oct 29, 2013 at 1:33 am

LEAVING TAYLORMADE FOR COBRA REALY ? HE MUST OF DONE A RORY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Reply Report comment
J

Oct 28, 2013 at 11:43 pm

Cobra-ier? Puma-ier?

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

1 hour ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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