Per south african golf digest.

Effective Immediately.

Where did you see this

Sirshanksalot.com

LOL, Ernie with x-18's and FT-I

He's no longer on the titleist site as a staffer... If thats a word

that's days old...where have you been

http://www.golfdigest.co.za/index.php

huge "get" for callaway. wonder what will be in the bag...

I think its good news for him look what is did for Phil. Titelist are running out of star who is going to replace him as they lack the superstars. has anyone got picture of him playing Callaway in Thialand.

Since there is no statement from Callaway nor Ernie himself, I wouldn't go as far as to say "official". The link to his sponsorship from Titleist was removed from his own page (ernieels.com) a few hours ago, however.
OB

Please lock this thread. not official until it comes from callaway or Ernie.

I hope Titliest gets someone big to replace the big easy.

Even if it were incorrect... it's not like it's gonna change anyones life but Ernies... Relax grasshopper

Titleist doesn't need anyone to replace Els. They're the best and they know it...just ask them!

Frankly, I think this is smart on Els' part. I think Callaway overall has more to offer than Titleist.

It would be great if Els played all custom Ben Hogan irons.

Exactly. Do we really expect that a spokesperson from Callaway or Ernie himself are going to log in and state that it's official?

If it's being published online through a Golf Digest link, and Titleist has removed Ernie from its site, and the Titleist link is removed from Ernie's site, then you can be pretty sure it's true.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck!

WOW!! The trigger eventually got pulled!

Good for Ernie!

I'm still a

That is crazy. I never thought I would see the day that Els would wear a Callaway hat. Go Ernie!!!

good for Ernie.. I hope it's true.

I dont see him in Hogan.. if Callaway is footing the bill it's going to be Callaway in his bag

I see a FT-5 and X-forged irons in his future... maybe the vokey's will stay for awhile... he's been having so many putting related issues lately, that part of the bag could be anything.

I don't think this is all one way traffic i.e. Ernie calling the shots. It's very likely that Titleist did not want to renew his contract, after all he's not exactly been setting the golfing world on fire of late.

Not arguing with you, but couldn't it be a smart move for Cally to have Els play Hogan customs? It would potentially boost Hogan sales, and they wouldn't compete with Cally products if they went the custom route on the Hogans.

Or is that just a crazy scenario?

It wouldn't surprise me if he still had the Titty 3wood in the bag to start with... the X fairway is an aquired taste.... Along with Vokey wedges and the ProV1x ball.. It might take a few weeks of play before putting the Cally ball in the bag, got to get comfortable with the clubs....

Don't think he'll have the Hogan's..... Definatley the X Forged, very similar to the TM 300 series he used to massive affect before going to Titleist.....

I like that idea as well. Right now who is playing Hogan blades? The name needs a boost and EE could boost their sales tremendously in the blade market.

He's on my fantasy team...so I hope it doenst take him long to adjust:)

more for sanity of the board. with 100 threads about Ernie its hard to keep track. it would be nice if things were consolidated in one place.

I wonder what the price is. He had a below market deal at Titleist, but then his star has been fading lately. Will be interesting to hear the terms.

ELS JOINS CALLAWAY

Tuesday, February 27: 09h00

By Barry Havenga

Ernie Els has signed a new equipment deal with Callaway Golf, ending his relationship with Titleist that began in 2003. The switch is believed to be effective immediately, as his profile has been removed from the Titleist website.

Els’ 5-year contract with Titleist was up for renewal at the end of 2007, but negotiations between the world No 6 and the Acushnet company evidently fell through, leaving Callaway the option of buying out the remaining year of his current contract with Titleist – which they did.

The move comes two months after the 37-year-old announced at the SA Airways Open in December that he was rededicating himself to becoming the world’s number one player. A final round 65 gave Els his fourth SA Open title at Humewood.

In his bag at the SAA Open at Humewood in December was a prototype Titleist 907 D2 driver and the new Titleist Pro V1x ball.

It’s not certain at this early stage whether Els as part of his new contract will have to discontinue using a Titleist golf ball, which he has used throughout his career, in favour of the Callaway HX Tour ball used by staff players such as Phil Mickelson and Charles Howell III.

One reason for Callaway’s interest might be to counter the move made by Henrik Stenson to Srixon at the end of 2006. Callaway need a marquee player in Europe and Els will provide this.

Els tees up in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket this week, and was reported to have used a Callaway Fusion driver during a practice round yesterday. He was also believed to have been seen recently at the Callaway testing facility in Surrey, near his home at Wentworth.

It is the third major equipment change in recent years for Els. He won two of his three majors, the 1997 US Open and 2002 Open, as a TaylorMade player. Since signing for Titleist in 2003 he has won five tournaments on the PGA Tour, but the last of those was the WGC-American Express Championship in 2004.

Els will join Mickelson and Howell as Callaway’s highest profile players. His coach, David Leadbetter, is also endorsed by Callaway.

Along with numerous new advertising campaigns and photo shoots for his new sponsors – requiring his time and effort – the Ernie Els Foundation will have to discontinue the use of their Titleist equipment.

www.golfdigest.co.za

Makes ya wonder if it's the equipment (not likely) or is it that Titliest is a difficult company to deal with?

Which of the top ten players in the world play titliest equipment (clubs, not balls)? They had one, now they have none.

adam scott is in the top ten. he plays titleist.

i really hope ernie resurrects ben hogan as a brand name. it'd be fine if he wore the callaway hat & carried the bag, i'd just like to see some sweet hogan swords in that callaway bag.

the ball is going to be an interesting issue as well.

IMO - with the ball line Titty has - it doesnt matter. The company will contiune to make mad bank.

I definitely think the first thing to go is the ProV1X, whether he has Cally clubs in the bag or not. He was one of the players who complained publicly about the 2nd and 3rd generation Xs "falling out of the sky" and not holding their line in the wind. It seemed that, since Titleist couldn't/didn't make him a ball he was happy with, he went looking for something else. And you know Callaway, of all the companies, is willing to work/modify equipment for their marquee players. Just look at Phil...

No word about anything on his own website. But if you look under 'sponsors' you'll find no equipment manufacturer there.

Good call! I don't know how I missed that.

Look at the players who have left Titleist in recent years and gone on to better things.... Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia and the reasons they left.....
Phil needed the $$ but has won 3 majors after doing so, Casey got mis-quoted in the press, but has come out stronger and storming Nike's profile in Europe and Sergio was a swap deal, and yes he hasn't won a major yet but he's a much better player now than he was 3 years ago... Now Ernie has fallen out with Titleist, and maybe this is the restart of him winning majors again... Els is looking a nice e/w wager for the Masters and The Open...

It seems nobody leaves Titleist on good terms, they are certainly the most difficult manufacturer to deal with on tour (if your not a tour player) and now they don't have a superstar player on the books....seems a bit odd to me....

i bet this was probably the beginning of his "3 year plan" he stated awhile back....

Don't forget about Tiger. He was the first to leave. He's done OK since he left.

It's pretty simple economics. Titleist does not pay fat contracts, all the other major OEMs do. So while there is a lot of speculation about golf ball performance, who has more to offer in equipment (Callaway does not), who is more friendly, bad terms, etc.....bottom line is when contracts are being renegotiated the likes of TW, EE, PM, Sergio are not looking for less money, they want more and they will get it, just not from Titleist.

PM, and Sergio are tough horses to bet on... on any given week they can either look like a stud or a fool.

What is going to be your reaction if a salesman tries to shill you a putter by saying, "this is the same putter Sergio uses!" Wow gee it works so well for him maybe it can help me miss more 4 footers! NO THANKS!

The other day I saw a commercial with Phil telling me how easy his new driver is to hit straight. Then I turn the channel and watch him loose ANOTHER tournament by parking his ball in the rough. MMMMM smell that, credibility!

And now we have EE, the big EEEEEEasy... so easy I'm not sure he's alive. The guys just comes off as so dull. Ambien maybe, golf clubs not really. Or maybe blood pressure meds, with those red cheeks the brother looks like he could pop at any minute.

What we are seeing is Callaway's last attempts to stay out of someone elses hands. When was the last time they turned a profit? really...

I think titleist is playing it smart... in this day unless your Tiger your everyone else. They are investing in the future without too much wagered.

Isn´t there a player called Tiger or something who is using some kind of a Titleist putter?

Adam Barr just reported that Callaway told him there is no deal signed with EE as of yet.

Titleist told him that they are done with Ernie.

So as of now EE is a free agent... hmmmmmm.

I'm not buying that from the golf channel. EE is smarter than that you think he would give up getting paid by Titleist to sit idol while he's looking for a company

look at this:http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/27/sports/NA-SPT-GLF-US-PGA-Notebook.php

mcca

Golf Channel's Golf Central just announced that Callaway indicates that there is no deal, although there has been speculation on the Internet (read Golfwrx).



Ernie as an independent would be even better than Callaway, lets see what he really wants to play. For the short term he doesn't need the money IMHO.

I was watching Golf Channel about twenty minutes ago, they said it was not official he was going to Callaway, but Ernie is leaving Titleist.

http://www.pga.com/news/tours/pga-tour/els022707.cfm

Why do you assume that Titleist does NOT pay BIG money on Tour Players? What is your basis for thinking that?

I can tell you that Titleist pays MORE $$$$ for ball contracts and putter contracts than anybody out there.

As far as Titleist offering more in equipment than Callaway? WHAT! Please enlighten me.

DSquared.

Doesn't sound like you are a Callaway fan!

In your opinion who is more popular Adam Scott or Ernie Els? Who has produced more?

DSquared.

It's not an assumption, it's fact. Titleist told everyone who asked why they let Tiger go that no player is bigger than the brand. When a Titleist contract player thinks they are doing well and popular, they ask to renegotiate, and what ends us happening is Titleist telling the player there will be no pay raise and if the player does not want to honor the contract then another OEM can buy the contract out. It went that way with Tiger, then Sergio, then Phil, and now Els. I am sure I am leaving others out.

Of course Titleist pays more $ for balls/putters, it's called protecting the brand. And that's why player contracts for the full bag don't get out of hand. Phil was making $4M a year, he wanted more, Titleist said no. What more proof do you need?

I didn't say Titleist offered more equipment that Callaway. Someone earlier posted that Callaway has more options, I disagree. Outside of a square driver, what does Callaway have to offer that Titleist does not? Conversely, what Titleist has to offer by way of putters is far better than Odyssey. Can you imagine the pressure Cally puts on PM when he was winning with the Scotty Napa?

Consider yourself enlightened.

things will change, certainly. but EE went
from TM to Titleist and i dont think he became
a BAD golfer. every company is a little different,
and its been stated that he hasnt really been
torching up the tour lately. maybe he thinks "change
is good". hes a great player, he'll adjust. JMO.

Sure is, send me a link from the titliest website that lists' him as a staff player. Better yet, try and find one from the Cameron site. If a player using a SC putter makes them a titliest player, then they own half the PGA.