Equipment

Poulter leaves Cobra-Puma Golf

Published

10 years ago

Oct 15, 2014

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 #Titleist http://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

Your Reaction?

LIKE1
LEGIT0
WOW1
LOL1
IDHT0
FLOP1
OB0
SHANK1

Related Topics:Cobra Puma

Up Next

Do TaylorMade’s RSi Face Slots actually work?

Don't Miss

Hello Face Slots: TaylorMade RSi 1, RSi 2 and RSi TP irons

Zak Kozuchowski

63 Comments

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.

Reply Report comment
- Cooper
  
  Oct 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm
  
  I meant just the Titleist ball
  
  Reply Report comment
- Dan
  
  Oct 21, 2014 at 5:42 am
  
  We must share the same source. Announcement should be today
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Matt
    
    Oct 21, 2014 at 11:49 am
    
    he is announcing at noon on Twitter.
    
    Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Oct 19, 2014 at 4:00 pm

I hope it’s Ping.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- roxald
  
  Oct 19, 2014 at 9:22 am
  
  I say he’s joining McIlroy at Nike.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ponjo

Oct 18, 2014 at 2:10 am

Pouter needs to stop being a clothes horse and get some practice in.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
Dan

Oct 17, 2014 at 4:46 am

Wilson Staff – You’ve heard it here first (from the grape vine)

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 2:45 pm
  
  I actually like that idea most…
  
  Reply Report comment
- :-p
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 2:50 pm
  
  At least Mizuno has that cool blue driver! Poults need color! :-p
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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???
  
  Reply Report comment
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!

Reply Report comment
MHendon

Oct 16, 2014 at 11:59 am

News flash, he signs with the highest bidder, period!

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 2:36 pm
  
  TM only staffs long hitters, not sure he would align well.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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!
    
    Reply Report comment
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?

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
Wally K

Oct 16, 2014 at 8:49 am

Mizuno would be sweet.

Reply Report comment
cheesehead42

Oct 16, 2014 at 8:46 am

The real question is who will be his shoe supplier?

Reply Report comment
Kyle Gordon

Oct 16, 2014 at 5:48 am

I believe that poults will play a full set of titleist equipment

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- Buck
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm
  
  I agree, titelist makes sense
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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 .

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
chris

Oct 16, 2014 at 12:05 am

I think Nike. He can still sell his clothes, but in Europe only.

Reply Report comment
Todd Turner

Oct 15, 2014 at 11:08 pm

FJ

Reply Report comment
Charlie

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:44 pm

If he wants to win majors, he should sign with PING.

Reply Report comment
- 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
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Matt2814
    
    Oct 16, 2014 at 7:03 am
    
    Didn’t Bubba Watson (PING STAFF PLAYER) win the masters last year??
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Oosty
      
      Oct 16, 2014 at 12:58 pm
      
      And what about Oosthuizen? Duh.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Tom
        
        Oct 17, 2014 at 10:26 am
        
        Angel Cabrera
        
        Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Oct 16, 2014 at 11:56 am
    
    +1
    
    Reply Report comment
Enrique

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:31 pm

If he goes Callaway I’m giving my clubs to the local First Tee chapter.

Reply Report comment
- Pat
  
  Oct 17, 2014 at 6:29 pm
  
  I’ll be right behind you, haha.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dakota

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:09 pm

My gut instinct is telling me he is going to Mizuno.

Reply Report comment
Todd Turner

Oct 15, 2014 at 9:32 pm

Go back to the FJ Icon!

Reply Report comment
- sgniwder99
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 8:47 am
  
  Seriously. Those Puma shoes looked weird with the stuff he wears.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- HoHoHo
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 10:17 pm
  
  You’re a clueless redneck
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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….
  
  Reply Report comment
Martin

Oct 15, 2014 at 9:07 pm

Who cares.

Reply Report comment
- Jeremy
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 10:53 pm
  
  People who read golf blogs, I’d imagine.
  
  Very constructive comment.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 11:42 pm
  
  You do, you just commented.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Rich
    
    Oct 16, 2014 at 8:17 am
    
    SHUT UP!
    
    Reply Report comment
nikkyd

Oct 15, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Who on earth would buy that pasty teabags tartan textiles. Good god.

Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 11:04 pm
  
  If you’ve ever worn it, you’d find it’s high quality tartan textiles…
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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?
  
  Reply Report comment
- dko
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 10:56 am
  
  I would and I have. They are actually really good.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jason

Oct 15, 2014 at 8:30 pm

I hope he signs with Ping.

Reply Report comment
- 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…………………….
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mike Hopkins
    
    Oct 20, 2014 at 10:40 am
    
    Fj as well
    ‘
    
    Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

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

Published

5 hours 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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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!

Your Reaction?