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TaylorMade and Sergio Garcia part ways after 15 years… where to next?

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When we recently spotted Sergio Garcia with a custom Odyssey Toulon putter, and then later using a Callaway Mack Daddy wedge in competition (pictured below), it seemed to be only a matter of time that TaylorMade and Garcia would soon part ways. That day has now come, as TaylorMade announced in a statement today that the Garcia-TaylorMade marriage has ended after 15 years.

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“Today, after a memorable 15 year partnership with Sergio Garcia, we have mutually agreed on a release from the remaining years of his TaylorMade contract,” a TaylorMade spokesperson told us. “It has been an honor to play a role in his performance throughout his career, including The Players Championship, 19 worldwide wins, Ryder Cup heroics and his 2017 Masters win. We congratulate Sergio on a career year and wish him all the best for the future.”

Using a bag full of TaylorMade golf clubs, Garcia won the 2017 Masters to get himself off of the “best player without a major” list. As highlighted by TaylorMade’s statement, since 2003 when he joined TaylorMade from Titleist, Garcia also won The Players Championship, had 19 worldwide wins, and constantly tormented Team USA in the Ryder Cup on alternating years.

As his recent club testing decisions imply, the most likely candidate for Garcia’s next club sponsor would be Callaway, but the company has yet to comment on the matter. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.

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75 Comments

75 Comments

  1. LEWIS

    Nov 3, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Looks like its mizuno irons now guys

  2. Forsbrand

    Oct 11, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    Is I because he has just been advised that Rory and tiger are major shareholders in Taylormade, part of eh private equity buyout?

  3. Mister Tom

    Oct 11, 2017 at 10:13 am

    Contrary to a lot of people here, my opinion is this isn’t a decision that Garcia made. This isn’t his decision. This is a young man’s game and the needle is being pushed due to all the “2011” high-school graduates. Adidas, Taylormade, Nike, etc, are looking to use their sponsorship dollars with player brands that grow the game and grow their revenue, and Garcia isn’t growing a brand’s awareness despite having the Masters under his belt. People aren’t buying Adidas shoes or Taylormade clubs because Sergio sports their logo, they are because Dustin Johnson carries the gear.

    Sponsorship for a young man is an island paradise and an old man’s graveyard. For example, Phil isn’t moving the needle much, and I would imagine Callaway has or is renegotiating his contract terms. I mean, how can Callaway afford to continue to pay Mickelson $35MM/yr, and why would they? He cannot hit a fairway, so why would that help Callaway’s driver sales?

    All this talk about Tiger and his new “irons” and his swing? Seriously? The game has moved on and has embraced the young guns.

    • Thomas A

      Oct 11, 2017 at 11:35 am

      Callaway just signed Phil to a career contract. Sergio definitely moves the needle internationally.

  4. smitty

    Oct 11, 2017 at 1:16 am

    TM dumped Sergio to make way for Tiger’s comeback…. and they are betting a big bagful of $$$$$ on the Resurrection of The Tigerman.

  5. Shane

    Oct 10, 2017 at 11:36 pm

    Sergio Garcia had a lot of talent but has under performed over the years and it was not due to equipment. In light of his Masters win Garcia probably wanted more money and TM said no because from a marketing perspective they don’t need him as they have new blood like John Rahm to capture the Spanish market.

  6. alvin

    Oct 10, 2017 at 10:24 pm

    Sergio Sergio, I bought TM clubs because of you!!
    I love you Sergio but what should I do with my new TM clubs now that you are leaving TM?
    I’m verklempt ….. oooh Sergio

  7. UnclePhil

    Oct 10, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    I just read that Target is making a strong run at him with his own custom line of Northwesterns!

  8. Reno

    Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 am

    Who cares.

  9. golfraven

    Oct 10, 2017 at 8:20 am

    I think he also lost it after recent putter incident. Please give him a ‘decent’ putter for heaven’s sake!

    • Boyo

      Oct 11, 2017 at 7:39 am

      It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.
      Head case. What a waste of talent.

      • ibo

        Nov 8, 2017 at 2:02 am

        $46M throughout his career. 20 international victories including a The Players and The Masters. Truly a waste of talent.

  10. golfraven

    Oct 10, 2017 at 8:17 am

    I guess Sergio can’t hit it as far as the driver promises (he should hit it longer than Rory after what TM claimed in recent years) so he is taking off the hat and quits it – simples. I can’t blame him, who wants to have the shortest in the bunch?

  11. Jacked_Loft

    Oct 10, 2017 at 4:21 am

    More than likely it’s because that Sergio originally signed with Adidas, and the TM contract was part of the total deal. Now that Adidas and TM have parted, TM would probably have to pay more for SG than before, and that would be just too much all factors considered.

  12. Robert Parsons

    Oct 9, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    He’s in talks to go under contract as I type.

    Nobody signs players like we do. Period.

  13. Robert Parsons

    Oct 9, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    How soon till your post is removed?

    Nobody deletes posts like we do. Period.

  14. Jack Nash

    Oct 9, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    Only a matter of time before he stepped away from the garbage. He got them their Major, now he smartens up.

    • Steven

      Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 pm

      That garbage is the best driver and 5 wood I’ve hit in my life. It’s kind of stupid to call the best drivers on the PGA Tour garbage.
      And the Champions Tour Players who don’t get paid to play a driver? Most are using M2. They seem to like the garbage a lot.

      • Boyo

        Oct 11, 2017 at 7:40 am

        You mean the driver that they are paying the most to the players to use. These guys could use anything.

  15. M. Vegas

    Oct 9, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Where’s the acid faces that want Sergio with Mizuno

    • Brian

      Oct 10, 2017 at 9:44 am

      You mean “where’re”, right? “Where is the acid faces…” Does that sound right to you?

      • M. Vegas

        Oct 10, 2017 at 2:17 pm

        No, I like where’s…
        I feel like that’s how I would say it if I was talking

        • DT

          Oct 10, 2017 at 3:32 pm

          Since “acid faces” is plural, “where are” is grammatically correct.

  16. Steve Hamer

    Oct 9, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    there club are made for them not we get in the stores no mater what name is on them

  17. Garry Pierce

    Oct 9, 2017 at 2:54 pm

    I lost respect for him when hawked a luger in the cup, he is a.
    LOSER

    • Sergio

      Oct 9, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      you are the loser. he won a lot of tournament, how about you?

    • JThunder

      Oct 9, 2017 at 4:00 pm

      He sold a gun during the Ryder Cup?

    • Boyo

      Oct 11, 2017 at 7:44 am

      I call him spit boy. If he’d have done that in my group I’d have kicked his a$$.

  18. Bob Parsons

    Oct 9, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    I’d like to welcome Sergio Garcia to the PXG family.

    • Darren Rovell

      Oct 9, 2017 at 2:09 pm

      Sources Close to ESPN: Sergio to PXG on a 15 year deal worth up to $690 million.

      • Garry Pierce

        Oct 9, 2017 at 2:59 pm

        I can’t believe that Parson’s going to pay that kind of money. I don’t see his irons at the courses where the guys that have the cash to buy them. Las Vegas – Palm Springs – LA area or in Phoenix. Where they selling?

      • moses

        Oct 9, 2017 at 3:04 pm

        .690 million. Fixed it for ya. 🙂

    • William Boulton

      Oct 10, 2017 at 10:39 am

      Congrats
      Great player
      I’d like to try your clubs anytime soon

  19. WestPhi

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:59 pm

    I wonder if PXG will take a stab at him…?

    • henry

      Oct 9, 2017 at 9:24 pm

      Parsons claims “to PXG” when any player becomes available. I mean for gods sake they just signed Paige Spirinac, whose only job in golf is to look pretty.

  20. DaJudge

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    Sergio is abandoning TM because he doesn’t want to be associated with a company that sells Fake-Forged P-790 cast steel body clubs. It’s simply unethical and devious and Sergio is a man of principles.

  21. Joe Mcgillicuti

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    Wake up and get in touch with reality guys. He’s already overpaid and now that he won the Masters, his price tag has gone up per his agent. He’s on the back 9 people. And now that he is married, that old work ethic will be a tad bit harder to execute. TaylorMade got his best years out of him. Callaway usually overpays guys like this after he’s been squeezed of all the juice. Once the kid comes, priorities will REALLY change

    • ND Hickman

      Oct 9, 2017 at 1:35 pm

      Let’s be frank. Does it really matter to us which club he plays? All credit to him. We wish him well.

  22. Boss

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Aaaaaah I see. It’s just more money that Callaway are willing to pay, for a guy who just won a major, who has that power of negotiation that TM wasn’t willing to give that extra bit more in renegotiation. Such a shame. The agents have so much power.

    • Matt

      Oct 9, 2017 at 12:09 pm

      This is a TM decision. They’re letting almost all their players go.

    • JThunder

      Oct 9, 2017 at 4:03 pm

      What’s “such a shame” about any of this? It’s two multi-million dollar companies fighting over a millionaire wearing their hat. Want some better examples of shameful behavior by millionaires? I bet I could find a few.

  23. Jack Matthews

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Interesting. I wonder if he does go to Callaway. It seems like their new driver (GBB Epic) is becoming very popular on tour. Also, I wonder if “playing what the pros play” is as important as it was a decade ago. It’s clear the OEMs are fighting it out for market share now that the club business is in somewhat of a decline. I guess having big name endorsers is still one way to compete.

  24. TBone

    Oct 9, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    Wish he’d go back and to titleist. The 818 line is so pure.

    • rymail00

      Oct 9, 2017 at 7:20 pm

      That’d be cool. But Titleist seems to get them early and then they go to OEM’s who offer more.

  25. Tom54

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am

    I see nothing wrong with Sergio switching golf equipment. Let’s face it to all us avid golf nuts can you honestly say you’ve stayed with one brand for 15 years. That’s half the fun trying the newest items out on the market regardless of who makes them. Other than being paid why should they be any different.

  26. Matt

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am

    TM rumored to be going to a four (star) player sponsorship system. DJ, Rory, Rahm and JDay. Not sure what will happen to Rose, Woods etc, but Rosey likely to be the next to jump ship. They just need to spread the announcements out so it doesn’t look as bad.

  27. AceVenturi

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:50 am

    He is going to Callaway, 100%.
    This will hurt TaylorMade as not only they’ve seen a major drop in sales and marketshare in every major region due to the Epic story, but also gets corroborated by one of their major Icons changing bag mid-contract. Sergio has been in TMs advertising each year for the last 15.

    • Boyo

      Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am

      Who cares about a company that brings out “THE NEXT TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH” every 6 months?

  28. Duncan Marc

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Maybe he got tired of being asked to switch clubs every 6 weeks….

    • Shane

      Oct 9, 2017 at 2:28 pm

      Exactly. MAYBE he asked for more, or it was just time for a change. Funny how everyone seems quick to call the guy out! Always liked the guy and wish him the best, wherever he winds up!

      • cgasucks

        Oct 9, 2017 at 2:58 pm

        Yeah…no matter which OEM he winds up with he’ll be fine career wise…

      • Boyo

        Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am

        You’d play with a guy that spits in the cup?

  29. Richard Tickle

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:21 am

    i bet he go pxg they make best clubsin all of golf. BOOMBABBY!

    • PAUL

      Oct 9, 2017 at 11:46 am

      YOURE ALL WRONG! i HAVE HEARD fROM rEPUTABLE SOURCE HES GOING TO wILSON sTAFF!

      • Mike

        Oct 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm

        Paul that wouldn’t surprise me one bit, Wilson make good irons, but he might just try Srixon ??? progressive iron makers

    • ILoveHateGolf

      Oct 9, 2017 at 12:21 pm

      I’ll bet he doesn’t. Regardless, at least a little effort on the grammar would be appreciated, Richard. Jesus….

      • Richard Trickle

        Oct 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm

        lEAVE jESUS OUT OF THIS. yOU BEET hE doeSNT GO pXG hUH? rEAL SMART GUYYV YOU arE!

        • cgasucks

          Oct 10, 2017 at 10:47 am

          Fentanyl is a very bad drug..please get help. Besides Wilson can’t afford Garcia…PXG…possibly..

  30. cgasucks

    Oct 9, 2017 at 11:14 am

    If Garcia switched when his TM contract expired it makes a lot of sense and no one will bat an eye. But in this case Garcia got out in mid-contract which will leave a lot of questions on the table…just like Mickelson when he left Titleist for Callaway in mid-contract.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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