Equipment
Poulter leaves Cobra-Puma Golf
Long-time Cobra Golf staffer Ian Poulter has split with the equipment brand.
I can officially say i am No longer a @cobragolf or @PUMAGolf endorsed player. I will let you know my New endorsement partners very soon.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
I have had 8 good years with @cobragolf & @PUMAGolf but it’s time to move on. Very exciting new Chapter.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
At the time, there’s no word on where the 38-year-old might land, but a move to Cobra’s former parent company Titleist would be the most seamless. He currently uses the company’s Pro V1X golf ball and Vokey wedges.
Poulter also tweeted in August that he had participated in the shooting of a Titleist golf ball commercial, presumably to air in 2015. That indicates that he will not sign with an equipment company that would require him to switch golf balls.
Just finished the #Titleist golf ball commercial up here in Boston. Always good fun with Team #Titleisthttp://t.co/El2z6pJwCM
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) August 26, 2014
A tweet from Oct. 15 shows just how much Poults likes the 2015 Titleist ProV1X, which golfers will learn more about at January’s PGA Merchandise show.
The New @titlesit golf ball is superb. Feels softer around the green, Solid off the tee. It’s worth grabbing a sleeve to try folks.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) October 15, 2014
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Equipment
Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.
Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.
Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.
“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.
“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…
“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”
With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.
After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X
3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (May)
- Tiger Woods WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. In-hand photos from 2024 Genesis Open. Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees @18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Irons: 2023 TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 Raw (56-12TW, 60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (2024)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
More Tiger Woods WITBs
- Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (November)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (December) (new in-hand photos)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB at the 2022 PGA Championship (with a new 2-iron!)
- Tiger Woods WITB: 2022 Masters
- Tiger Woods WITB 2021 PNC Championship (new in-hand photos)
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Cooper
Oct 20, 2014 at 9:33 pm
My sources say it’s gonna be Wilson boys and girls. They are big in Europe, he can play Titleist and wear his own clothes. Plus they need someone to replace Padraig.
Cooper
Oct 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm
I meant just the Titleist ball
Dan
Oct 21, 2014 at 5:42 am
We must share the same source. Announcement should be today
Matt
Oct 21, 2014 at 11:49 am
he is announcing at noon on Twitter.
ND Hickman
Oct 19, 2014 at 4:00 pm
I hope it’s Ping.
Gustavo
Oct 18, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I will go out on a limb and agree with Mike and say Srixon/Cleveland. They are a brand on the rise and could use a Euro name like Poults
roxald
Oct 19, 2014 at 9:22 am
I say he’s joining McIlroy at Nike.
Ponjo
Oct 18, 2014 at 2:10 am
Pouter needs to stop being a clothes horse and get some practice in.
Pingback: Poulter Leaving Puma/Cobra, As Told By Adam Fonseca |
Tom
Oct 17, 2014 at 10:28 am
Poulter should go back to playing full time in Europe so he can win an event
Dan
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:46 am
Wilson Staff – You’ve heard it here first (from the grape vine)
Waqar
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:14 pm
Ping is Bubba territory, he is trying to sell titliest balls so it’s titliest I would assume unless he is sending them a message. He plays odessey putters, so it could be callaway too. Callaway is the most profitable golf manufacturer these days. I think it will be callaway.
Scooter McGavin
Oct 16, 2014 at 1:36 pm
As much as Ping could use a good staffer, and I would like to see him on Ping, my guess would be that he goes with someone with deep pockets like Nike, Taylormade, or Callaway to a lesser extent. Maybe I’m just cynical, but that’s my guess.
Tyler
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:52 pm
I think he would make a good addition to the Mizuno staff. He and Luke Donald are great brand ambassadors
bradford
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:45 pm
I actually like that idea most…
:-p
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:50 pm
At least Mizuno has that cool blue driver! Poults need color! :-p
ams165
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
To many bloody brit’s.
It would look like the euro tour…
He has his own clothes.
Maybe Scratch???
Tittylist
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I thought I was on the TaylorMade website with all the TM ads taking up 1/2 the page. Perhaps Poulter can join TM as well like golfwrx!
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 11:59 am
News flash, he signs with the highest bidder, period!
Kris
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:57 am
Rick Young from Score Golf here in Canada seems to think he’s going back to TMAG. I was thinking Titleist myself, but he would be a logical pickup for TM.
bradford
Oct 16, 2014 at 2:36 pm
TM only staffs long hitters, not sure he would align well.
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Really, so when did Brian Harman become a long hitter or Justin leonard or Ken Duke or YE Yang or Scott Verplank or… well you get my point!
steve
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:53 am
I don’t blame him. Cobra/Puma pushes the Fowler image on the clubs and clothing. Did Poulter even exist to them.
He will go to the highest bidder, but I don’t see them lining up to sign him. He is coming off a bad season, doesn’t hit the driver far and is trying to push his clothing line. If your a equipment company Poulter is going to add little to nothing in sales. Doe’s anyone wonder or care what driver he plays or any equipment?
Pingback: Ian Poulter Leaves COBRA-PUMA Golf - CHICAGODUFFER.COM
Donger
Oct 16, 2014 at 9:03 am
Callaway – he can still play the Pro VX – just like the rest of the callaway guys
Wally K
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:49 am
Mizuno would be sweet.
cheesehead42
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:46 am
The real question is who will be his shoe supplier?
Kyle Gordon
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:48 am
I believe that poults will play a full set of titleist equipment
Kyle
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:46 am
I think that poulter will move to titleist golf and play a full bag of titleist equipment
Buck
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm
I agree, titelist makes sense
Andy
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:51 am
Easy, he will go to Titleist! He has played the ball for many years and used to wear the shoes. He also plays their wedges.
Tyler
Oct 18, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Yes, I agree he’ll go to Titleist. I think Titleist needs someone with more flash. I think Titleist is starting to become more of an “old man’s” brand due to low innovation, a more bland color palette and a higher price point. I’m not bashing Titleist. I love Titleist and I’m not a flashy guy so I actually prefer all of the above mentioned “old man’s” attributes. However, you do limited your market by not having some flash. All the other guys (even Ping, turbulators anyone?) are pumping up the color and flash. This would make sense for Titleist. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised to see Titleist bring in Poulter’s line of clothes as their own just as they did with Bob Vokey and Scotty Cameron. The FJ clothing line could use some of Poulter’s touch.
Jim
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:42 am
I agree with ping being where he goes he will most likely bag the i25 driver and wood line and i would guess the older anser iron line and wedges i would also guess an anser blade or the ketsch putter and he can keep playing his pro v1x ball. If this is where he goes .
Joel
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:26 am
Imagine if he went to callaway…. stenson and poulter both on one staff team. I love poulter, I just hope he lands somewere with clubs that work for him and not somewere just for the pay day.
chris
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:05 am
I think Nike. He can still sell his clothes, but in Europe only.
Todd Turner
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:08 pm
FJ
Charlie
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:44 pm
If he wants to win majors, he should sign with PING.
Nigel
Oct 16, 2014 at 4:19 am
PING haven’t really won many majors in recent years to warrant that statement. Especially compared to the other brands
Matt2814
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:03 am
Didn’t Bubba Watson (PING STAFF PLAYER) win the masters last year??
Oosty
Oct 16, 2014 at 12:58 pm
And what about Oosthuizen? Duh.
Tom
Oct 17, 2014 at 10:26 am
Angel Cabrera
Enrique
Oct 19, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Are you on crack? PING owns majors. 3 masters wins in 5 years. Add Open Championship with Oosthuizen and taking the fedex cup this year counts as much as a major – especially the way Horschel attacked it.
Mikec
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:01 am
I am a PING guy, but this is over the top.
I think that Rory has proved that it is talent not equipment.
MHendon
Oct 16, 2014 at 11:56 am
+1
Enrique
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:31 pm
If he goes Callaway I’m giving my clubs to the local First Tee chapter.
Pat
Oct 17, 2014 at 6:29 pm
I’ll be right behind you, haha.
Dakota
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:09 pm
My gut instinct is telling me he is going to Mizuno.
Todd Turner
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Go back to the FJ Icon!
sgniwder99
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:47 am
Seriously. Those Puma shoes looked weird with the stuff he wears.
Mark
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:27 pm
Who cares indeed. Puma made a huge mistake in buying Cobra in the first place. Poulter isn’t that big a name so I predict a move to Srixon or Mizuno.
HoHoHo
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:17 pm
You’re a clueless redneck
ams165
Oct 16, 2014 at 5:02 pm
+1
Only his mouth is big.
When was the last PGA event he won?????
His claim to fame is his mouth, ryder cup in 2012 and his clothes logo that like a phallic symbol….
Martin
Oct 15, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Who cares.
Jeremy
Oct 15, 2014 at 10:53 pm
People who read golf blogs, I’d imagine.
Very constructive comment.
Billy
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:42 pm
You do, you just commented.
Rich
Oct 16, 2014 at 8:17 am
SHUT UP!
nikkyd
Oct 15, 2014 at 8:47 pm
Who on earth would buy that pasty teabags tartan textiles. Good god.
Desmond
Oct 15, 2014 at 11:04 pm
If you’ve ever worn it, you’d find it’s high quality tartan textiles…
dr bloor
Oct 16, 2014 at 7:26 am
Because they don’t limit their golf wear to colors that go with Keystone Light cans?
dko
Oct 16, 2014 at 10:56 am
I would and I have. They are actually really good.
Jason
Oct 15, 2014 at 8:30 pm
I hope he signs with Ping.
Mike Hopkins
Oct 20, 2014 at 10:37 am
He loves titleist golf and will never leave their equip. Just like me.. smart move Poults…………………….
Mike Hopkins
Oct 20, 2014 at 10:40 am
Fj as well
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