News
Callaway Golf acquires Toulon Design
Since launching last year, Vista, California-based Toulon Design has rocketed ahead on a highway strewn with the wreckage of minor equipment manufacturers.
Sean Toulon and company’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed in major OEM circles. Callaway Golf announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Toulon Design. And Toulon, a 30-year-industry veteran, will join Callaway as Senior Vice President, Callaway Golf and General Manager, Odyssey Brand.
For Callaway, the acquisition complements its Odyssey brand, which stands as the No. 1 putter brand across all major tours.
“Sean is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable leaders in the golf equipment industry, and we are excited to have him come aboard to help us continue to lead the putter category with great designs and the highest performing innovations,” said Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer at Callaway Golf Company. “With today’s announcement we fortify our position as the number one equipment company in golf and add valuable experience to our leadership team.”
Regarding the acquisition, Sean Toulon said:
“We are so excited to be joining forces with Callaway and Odyssey. We have been inspired by the innovation of these two great brands over a long period of time. But what might be even more impressive is the engagement these great brands have with golfers,” he continued. “We have always believed that a deep connection to the game and to those that love it is the key to creating world class products and experiences that golfers love. We feel like we have found the perfect home and look forward to creating incredible products for passionate golfers for many years to come.”
Toulon offered an initial slate of putters last year (Madison, San Diego, Rochester, San Francisco, and Memphis). The former 16-year TaylorMade company man started the putter-making effort with his sons Tony and Joe with the lofty goal of making the best performing and looking putters in the world.
It’s unclear at this point whether the Toulon brand will now exist under the Callaway umbrella. But given Mr. Toulon’s title as General Manager, Odyssey brand, it seems more likely he’ll be working to craft premium offerings under the Odyssey label, likely in an effort to cut into Scotty Cameron’s share of the premium putter space.
Check out some of Toulon’s work below, as well as our review of Toulon Design putters.
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News
Five Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship
It was a year ago that we the north, found ourselves with toes and fingers crossed. The Oak Hill PGA Championship of 2023 finished on schedule, despite the iffiness of weather in upstate New York. It’s 75 degrees today across the Niagara Frontier, which makes it two out of three (2022 was the same way) for sultry, unseasonal weather.
Louisville is, let’s be honest, a much better bet for a May PGA Championship, and Valhalla is an exciting venue for the year’s second major championship on the men’s circuit. Brooks Koepka came in as the defending champion, and Rory McIlroy arrived as the last golfer to win a major at the Nicklaus-designed course. That was a decade ago, and lord, have things changed in the world and golf.
Day one at Valhalla offered walk-in eagles, buckets of birdies, and potential for a record-low, winner’s score. We’ll get right to the meat of the matter, with five things that we learned. After all, if you can make par from the muck, anything’s possible in the land of the horses.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
1. X marks this spot
Xander Schauffele went head to head last Sunday with Rory McIlroy, at least on the practice green. By the end of the round, Rors had won for a fourth time at Charlotte, while the X Man sat scratching his head, wondering what went wrong. Fortunately for us, Xander didn’t sulk.
The San Diego State alumnus absolutely torched Jack’s track with 62. Four birdies on the front nine, were followed by five more on the inward side. Schauffele never looked as if bogey was a consideration, and he might have gone even lower. Despite winning the Covid-delayed Gold medal at the Japan Olympics (I consider it a major, btdubs) Schauffele continues to chase an initial men’s major, and the validation that it brings. If 62 doesn’t get you over the hump, who knows what will.
Cam Smith made par from here …#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/BY5ZFCiH45
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
2. Scottie starts strong? Aye.
Last month, Mr. Scheffler won a second green jacket at Augusta National. Last year in Rochester, Mr. Scheffler tied for second in this event. Mr. Scheffler began play today with a walk-in eagle, a one-hop affair that never looked as if it might go anywhere but to its home. Scheffler had a few rough holes, but that’s to be expected from a new dad. Each time he made bogey, he bounced back with birdie, so he has that short memory that winners crave. Surprisingly, Scheffler failed to manage one last birdie at the reachable 18th. Perhaps that miss will motivate him in round two.
Scottie’s shot was so nice we had to see it twice ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/eR1UUsyi3a
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
3. LIV Check-In
It’s good to check in on the departed from time to time, to ensure that the fellows formerly known as PGA Tour members are doing well. It’s safe to say that some of them can still play. Defending champion Brooks Koepka posted 67 on the day, He had an eagle and three birdies on the day, with only a stumble at the 17th. He’s tied for 7th. Bryson DeChambeau made an eagle of his own, but also had a bogey, at the 12th hole. He cohabits eleventh position with Cameron Smith, who ALSO had a bogey on his card. They are one shot behind Koepka, and a fistful more behind the leader.
ON THE MONEY ?
Bryson DeChambeau for eagle! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Gz24VikAGQ
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
4. Sahith and Tony at Schauffele’s heels
Both Finau and Theegala represent a special sort of athletic golfer. Their power and their charisma blend to draw golf fans to their groups. Let’s be honest, too, and say that they don’t look like the traditional professional golfer. As much as Tiger Woods did in the 1990s, they have the power to bring greater diversity to the sport.
In terms of their play today, well, only Xander was better. Finau had a clean card, with six birdies and twelve pars. Theegala had seven birdies, ten pars, and one bogey. Each combined power and finesse to insert themselves squarely in contention, ahead of round two. How will they, and Xander as well, manage the afternoon putting surface on Friday? That’s the great unknown!
SAHITH. THEEGALA. ?
This hole out puts him in a tie for the lead early at the #PGAChamp.
? @PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/s3vLZNBQI7
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 16, 2024
5. All those other guys are here!
Rory, Tom Kim, Collin, and Viktor are all at minus-three or lower. Valhalla may not be a traditional golf course, but it is the type of course that the world’s best play well. McIlroy currently sits at minus-five, tied with Robert MacIntyre, Kim, and three others in fourth position. Maverick McNealy finished fast to reach the same figure, as did Tom Hoge. Morikawa closed with birdie to join the sextet at five below. Both Scheffler and Morikawa finished their rounds late on Thursday, meaning they should see smoother greens on Friday morning. If someone is a betting sould, wiser wagers could not be placed on better names than those two, two-time, major champions. Rory will tee off in Friday’s afternoon wave but, hey, he’s Rory, and he won going away last week at Quail Hollow, a course not unlike Valhalla.
The 2020 PGA Champion is making moves.
A solid approach shot from Collin Morikawa ?#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/DpD7QNfbSM
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2024
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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Mike
Sep 18, 2016 at 7:54 pm
Still looks like a ping…
JThunder
Sep 9, 2016 at 10:58 pm
Why is the only way to be “successful” to “take down Scotty”? Does it occur to anyone that being the #2 or #5 name in putters might still be a profitable way to make a living? It’s amazing anyone has a free hand to type, you’re all so busy drinking the corporate culture Kool Aid.
Charles
Sep 2, 2016 at 7:41 pm
The word is Toulon was funding the whole venture on his own. Hard to pass up the opportunity presented when just about your entire family is involved. Plus, Arnett used to work for TM and with Sean. I’m sure he lobbied hard for this.
C
Sep 1, 2016 at 9:28 pm
I’ve never understood why someone would want a scored face on a putter?
Dave R
Aug 31, 2016 at 4:19 pm
As long as golfers will pay $400.00 for putters the company’s will keep making them. Remember being seen with high priced putters makes you a better golfer .
Bigboy
Aug 31, 2016 at 7:46 am
All putters over $50 are overpriced, but if it makes you feel good as they say…..
JOEL GOODMAN
Aug 31, 2016 at 7:36 pm
1 MILLION % CORRECT.. AS THE OLD SAYING “IT AINT THE ARROW, IT’S THE INDIAN”
PAYING BIG BUCKS FOR A PUTTER IS GREAT —ONLY FOR YOUR EGO AND THE ENVY VALUE OF YOUR HACKER PALS.
JThunder
Sep 9, 2016 at 10:55 pm
I feel exactly the same about anyone who feels the need for more than a cardboard box to live in. Waste!
BSGolf
Aug 30, 2016 at 4:38 pm
So the #1 putter company right now goes out and purchases another person to run the show for Odyssey? I only see this going down hill from here…Weird move
Mat
Aug 30, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Someone on Callaway’s board got caught with a Scotty, and retorted, “Well, it’s not like Callaway has these.”
At least, I imagine that.
Brian
Aug 30, 2016 at 10:36 am
Must have really loved working with his sons’?
RG
Aug 30, 2016 at 1:43 am
Wow. So you clone some Ping designs, make them real shiny, add some kooky stamped on graphics and you’re considered cutting edge?!? It seems that every OEM comes out and copies the Anser and jacks the price. Crazy.
Golfer1
Aug 29, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Yay! More 400$ putters!
Michael
Aug 29, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Holy cow. Didn’t see that coming. So did Austie Rollinson leave Odyssey?
Charlie
Aug 29, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Good for Toulon.
However, I don’t see how they were hurting Callaway’s bottom line, nor do I see any noteworthy tech being bought out. Maybe Toulon got their hands on some patents?
rymail00
Aug 29, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Charlie,
I agree. I never saw anything special in their designs, or tech. Not saying they are bad putters at all, but I don’t think SC is to worried. I thought Odyssey’s milled putters looked way better than what I’ve seen so far from Toulon’s designs.
But interested to see what they come up with.
Gt
Aug 29, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Charlie
This is Callaway’s plan to take down Scotty, is all
Michael
Aug 29, 2016 at 1:10 pm
It’s a shame they didn’t think they could make a go of the company and make inroads in the ‘premium putter’ market as an independent company. Would be a shame if they just fall under the Odyssey umbrella.