Tour News
That didn’t take long: Lydia Ko signs with Callaway
According to a variety of outlets, including Simon Plumb, New Zealand sport journalist of the year, Lydia Ko has signed an endorsement deal with Callaway Golf.
Callaway has yet to make an official announcement, reports indicate that a 2014-season staff bag bearing Ko’s name has been spotted.
A deal with Callaway was rumored after the 16-year-old visited the Carlsbad, Calif., company in November, meeting her idol Phil Mickelson in the process.
Here’s the equipment Lydia Ko was playing in late August, as you can see, none of the then-amateur’s sticks bore the Callaway logo.
Earlier this month, however, the Callaway X2 Hot driver was spotted in the New Zealander’s bag, as was a Callaway putter, and what appeared to be Callaway Mack Daddy wedge when teen prodigy won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters, an official event so-sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA and Korea Ladies Professional Golf Tour.
Indeed, we spotted this Callaway Mack Daddy 2 wedge in Ko’s bag late last month.
All these things taken together make it pretty likely the 16-year-old is joining Morgan Pressel, Momoko Ueda, Sandra Gal, and Karen Stupples in an increasingly impressive group of LPGA Tour Callaway staffers.
This video posted by Golf Australia on YouTube December 18th shows the golfer with both Callaway hat and gear.
[youtube id=”DFqjwFKVJsI” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Of course the Callway deal isn’t the only recent agreement for Ko, who turned pro in November: she secured a three-year sponsorship deal with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, an Australian bank.
Assuming Lydia Ko is indeed on the Callaway roster, she follows in the footsteps of another young New Zealander, Danny Lee, who signed a reported multi-million dollar deal with Callaway in 2009 after joining the IMG stable. Lydia Ko, too, signed with IMG last week.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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joro
Mar 12, 2018 at 12:24 pm
So if she signed with Callaway, why is she carrying, playing with, and wearing a PXG Hat and Bag.
Fyearoldgolfer
Jan 19, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Why is this ‘old’ story coming up? She signed with PGX before last season. Has there been any WITB sightings this year?
jc
Dec 23, 2013 at 1:16 pm
since steve williams hates it, it must be a good move.
jc
Dec 23, 2013 at 1:15 pm
she would have signed with taylor made but since they come out with a new driver every 4 days, she couldn’t keep up.
Martin
Dec 23, 2013 at 7:19 am
Story today in Golf.com that she dumped her coach.
Hope she doesn’t start rebuilding her swing so she can win majors.
Brian
Dec 22, 2013 at 9:42 pm
I still wish she would have waited a bit longer before signing with a major label. I mean she just turned pro and has already had amazing success, I don’t really see why she signed within a month of turning pro.
I mean for many young players it gives them the financial backing they need to enter tourneys and deal with the expenses on tour. However with how well she is playing as well as her multiple wins she shouldn’t have much pressure to sign with anyone. Not that I am saying signing is bad, I just think given her position and likely having any company begging to sign her at any point I think she should have given it more time. However I think she definitely deserves it and I look forward to watching her have wild success in 2014
Martin
Dec 22, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Good signing by Callaway.
Troy Vayanos
Dec 22, 2013 at 1:17 am
I think it’s a good move by Callaway because Lydia is a future star. At such a young age and enormous potential the sky is the limit for her.
I don’t know how long the contract is for but I bet it’s a long one!
Rich
Dec 22, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Future Star? Already a star. Good for you Lydia. You deserve all the rewards.
doe
Dec 21, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Callaway making more brilliant moves. No more Ernie, bring on the 15-16 year old Asian junior females. That’ll sell clubs at the retail level.
c'mon Ben!
Dec 21, 2013 at 9:07 pm
At this point especially by WRX standards this is old news… You’re usually better than this Ben!
Joe
Dec 21, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Ms Ko seems to be a classy young lady and will fit in with the other players at Callaway. The last couple years, Callaway has really stepped up, having to compete with much larger companies. This is a huge signing that will only furtherenhance their image.
steve
Dec 22, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Unfortunately classy isn’t the word id use for Lydia. I met her at the ladies British open in st Andrews this year. She came across as being particularly bad mannered and downright spoiled. It was really disappointing.
Good move for Callaway though nonetheless.
Don
Feb 17, 2014 at 1:28 am
Wouldn’t pose for a photo with ya, huh?