Equipment

Singh signs with Hopkins, Stenson moves to Callaway

Published

10 years ago

Jan 3, 2014

Vijay Singh has signed an endorsement deal with Hopkins Golf that will have the 50-year-old Fijian wearing a Hopkins visor and carrying the company’s staff bag and wedges, while Henrik Stenson has signed on to become a Callaway staff player.

Singh is eligible for the Champions Tour, but he will play the majority of his starts on the PGA Tour this season. He joins 35 other Champions Tour golfers who elected to play Hopkins Golf wedges in 2013, including John Huston, Don Pooley, Wayne Levi, Gene Sauers, Bill Glasson, Dan Pohl, Chien Soon Lu, Roger Chapman, Gene Jones, Jim Thorpe, Vicente Fernandez and Calvin Peete.

“It’s not often that a start-up company signs a player of Vijay’s caliber,” said company CEO Greg Hopkins in a press release. “Vijay will not play equipment that doesn’t perform, which by itself, says it all for our Hopkins wedges.”

Singh is evidently quite comfortable working with Hopkins, who was the president and CEO of Cleveland Golf during the majority of Singh’s time spent as an endorser for that company.

“Greg Hopkins and I have made a good team for the past fifteen years,” Singh said. “Why stop now!”

Stenson is currently the No. 3-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings, and became the first golfer to win both the Race To Dubai (European Tour) and FedExCup Championship (PGA Tour) in the same year in 2013. He is so far the biggest signing for Callaway in 2014 in a signing season that has seen Callaway ink deals with Lydia Ko, Harris English, Thomas Pieters, James Erkenbeck and Chase Sieffert.

“After having the best season of my career to date in 2013 using Callaway irons and fairway woods, the option of extending my relationship with Callaway Golf was a very natural progression, and I look forward to continued success in 2014 being back as part of the Callaway family,” Stenson said in a Callaway press release. “As the cliche goes, why mess with a good thing?”

Stenson’s first European Tour event of 2014 will be the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. His first PGA TOUR event in 2014 will be the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

36 Comments

bob

Jan 15, 2014 at 1:04 am

my new email address

Reply Report comment
LY

Jan 9, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Ron:
When players change to a different golf club company is it the players seeking the company because they like those particular golf clubs or the company seeking the players.

Reply Report comment
Chuck

Jan 6, 2014 at 10:17 pm

Apart from Hopkins wedges, what other clubs will Vijay be carrying? Driver? Wood(s)? (Seven-wood?!?) Irons? Don’t care about the putter, because it will change by the time anybody posts it. But to have Vijay freed of any endorsement constraints outside of the Hopkins wedges… that will be interesting.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 7, 2014 at 10:43 am
  
  Good question, Chuck, for which I don’t have a reputable answer. I could make something up, but you’d call me on it!
  
  It must be nice for a professional golfer to free her or himself up from the need to earn more money via an endorsement contract. We might see some very inspired play from the great Fijian this year.
  
  Reply Report comment
christian

Jan 5, 2014 at 3:01 am

Stenson will probably be forced by his new contract to ditch his JDM Legacy Black irons, too bad.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 5, 2014 at 5:41 am
  
  That’s a good-looking club. Is that what the Legacy iron used to be called?
  
  http://www.golfwrx.com/139333/stenson-wins-with-callaways-exotic-legacy-black-irons/
  
  and
  
  http://www.golfwrx.com/96594/henrik-stenson-witb/
  
  Reply Report comment
- kmo
  
  Jan 5, 2014 at 8:11 am
  
  He should be able to keep the Legacy irons they are also offered in Europe, think a few Euro staffers play them. I don’t see why they would force him to change. It would be a poor choice on theyre (callaway) part if they did force a change as far as irons go.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jan 5, 2014 at 8:55 am
    
    Agreed, kmo.
    
    We’ve come a long way from the name-association days of the pre-2000s. It is the duty of club fitters to tell their customers “no, this isn’t the EXACT club that HS plays, but it is nearly identical and more importantly, specked out to your personal needs.” If someone wants to purchase HS-specked equipment as a trophy, go nuts.
    
    To us, the observer, it would be detrimental for any company to force a change and then clean up the mess of a performance regression. That’s not to say that the brass of big companies think as we do!
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Lee
    
    Jan 9, 2014 at 3:47 pm
    
    I’m sure he will keep his Legacy’s as mentioned they are available in Europe for big bucks. Henrik burning up the Tour with them should = sales for Calli!
    
    Reply Report comment
A

Jan 5, 2014 at 1:14 am

Yeah that Big Bertha Alpha is awesome.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 5, 2014 at 5:45 am
  
  Big Bertha Alpha? Did he play that before the TaylorMade SLDR?
  
  Reply Report comment
paul

Jan 4, 2014 at 9:02 pm

I still think Lydia is a bigger deal. But i am biased. lpga comes to my town, not the pga. i love seeing the writer of an article so active in the comments 🙂

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 5, 2014 at 7:09 pm
  
  I agree…I had the chance to shoot Lydia a good bit at Sebonack last summer. She ought to bring a great deal of positive attention to the women’s professional game. As far as the instructor switch goes…
  
  Reply Report comment
Zak

Jan 4, 2014 at 5:56 pm

I saw someone say that Henrik Stenson will be playing a full bag of Callaways this season, does that mean he will he parting ways with his beloved (and extremely successful) Piretti putter?

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 6:12 pm
  
  If there is a club in the bag that sponsors allow a player to outsource, it is the putter. If Stenson were to switch putters and putt poorly, no one would ask HOW he shot the poor score; it would simply be attributed to the new clubs.
  
  Reply Report comment
kevin

Jan 4, 2014 at 2:33 pm

Will the visor have antlers on it ??

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 2:48 pm
  
  Why would it? Antlers have nothing to do with Hopkins Golf.
  
  Oh, wait, I get it. The deer antler (velvet) thing.
  
  Well, even if DAV worked (it doesn’t http://www.bornfitness.com/does-deer-antler-velvet-work-and-build-muscle/) Vijay would still have to hit the shots. Nothing gives you mental fortitude and psychological strength.
  
  So, No.
  
  Keep reading, Kevin. And definitely keep commenting!!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Vijay
    
    Jan 4, 2014 at 4:10 pm
    
    Glad you gave Kevin permission to keep commenting. What a guy
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Ronald Montesano
      
      Jan 4, 2014 at 6:13 pm
      
      None of you guys need permission, Veej. It’s important to me to keep things open. We might disagree, but I still want to read opinions.
      
      Reply Report comment
Dwaine Ingarfield

Jan 4, 2014 at 2:21 pm

I hope Vijay has a great year. I’ve always been a big Vijay fan.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 2:49 pm
  
  tough youth…crossing sewer tunnels under an airport runway to get to the local golf course…when you come up from nothing, you’re different from the rest of the pro tour crowd.
  
  Reply Report comment
Johan

Jan 4, 2014 at 2:15 pm

Stenson has told Swedish media that he will have 14 Callaway clubs in the bag but keep titleist pro v1x. Most likely get a BB Alpha driver because he wants low spin driver. Callaway are hoping he will like new fairway woods and irons but I can’t see him switch that right away. A bit surprising he will switch putter though considering he owns stock in Piretti and also exclusive distribution in Sweden! It would be nice to see Odessy make an affordable cottonwood type putter!

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 9:51 pm
  
  It is surprising that he would switch the most personal club, the rolling stick. The money must be very good.
  
  Reply Report comment
nevadagolfguy

Jan 4, 2014 at 12:07 am

I have always liked vijay for whatever reason. As of late every time I hear about him though it’s always about some huge negative thing he has going on. It’s refreshing to hear a positive! On a side note, I’m sure he is doing his buddy Hopkins a favor but on the other hand…a buddy of mine just got a set of new wedges from them the other day and I have to say they are some great feeling/playing wedges. I’m sure it is at least somewhat an interest in playing the clubs and not all a friend doing a favor because they flat out perform.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 12:22 am
  
  I agree, Nevadagolfguy. Friendship will not allow a professional to play with inferior equipment. I had the opportunity to whack a Hopkins wedge and agree with you and your buddy.
  
  Reply Report comment
cmasty

Jan 3, 2014 at 8:29 pm

Wouldn’t want Vijay at this point if he paid me to give him clubs. He’s a liability.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 3, 2014 at 10:11 pm
  
  cmasty,
  
  I think the key is the personal/professional relationship between Hopkins and Singh. They go back. Also, Vijay has an ax to grind right now, which might motivate him to great things on one of the two tours. Since our memories are short, wins will increase his value to Hopkins.
  
  Reply Report comment
MJ

Jan 3, 2014 at 8:28 pm

Stenson makes sense. Pretty much already with them.

Big signing for Hopkins. Surprised they’ve got the capital to pull it, however. I know Vijay can’t be cheap.

Reply Report comment
- It needs to be affordable!
  
  Jan 3, 2014 at 9:01 pm
  
  Vijay probably did his buddy a favor. It was rumored before Hopkins started up with clubs that he would become Vijay’s agent after leaving Cleveland…
  
  Vijay did Hopkins a favor.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jan 3, 2014 at 10:12 pm
    
    Good points. Is it possible that Vijay received a percentage of the Hopkins name, or ponied up some money to support the cause?
    
    Reply Report comment
- MC
  
  Jan 3, 2014 at 9:13 pm
  
  I recently bought the Callaway Legacy Black Irons (same model as Stenson’s) with complimentary Callaway staff bag; what a great deal. Couple them with my Diablo Octane *13 Tour 3 wood, I pretty much have a nice set of Callaway clubs.
  
  I love both of my Callaway 3 wood and irons, they have that tour preferred sound and pleasant feeling when hit them square.
  
  Glad to know that I’m in Stenson’s side. He did know what are the best clubs out there.
  
  I’m predicting that he will scrap the SLDR then start using X Hot driver. I wonder if he will be still playing his Piretti?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jan 4, 2014 at 2:51 pm
    
    (the real)MC,
    
    Both good questions/predictions. It will be interesting to see if Stenson can first, follow up with a solid season and second, break through in the majors competition.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 4:16 pm
  
  MJ,
  
  Sure does, especially since Ernie left to go to Adams (which is essentially going to TaylorMade). That had to free up some room to officially sign HS.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jan 4, 2014 at 4:17 pm
    
    I think the keys to the Vijay signing are the prior working relationship and what may be unsaid (totally-unconfirmed supposition on my part of ownership slice of Hopkins golf.)
    
    Reply Report comment
Jeffrey Trigger

Jan 3, 2014 at 8:08 pm

This isn’t much of change for either Singh or Stenson. Stenson played almost all Callaway, minus the driver and putter. Honestly, the way Stenson is playing, you could give him Northwestern irons, and I don’t think there would be much difference, find me a golfer in the world right now who is hitting irons more pure than Stenson… Hopkins only makes wedges, so I don’t see Singh changing out his clubs.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 4, 2014 at 2:52 pm
  
  Ahhhh, Northwestern. I don’t think Stenson wants to waste a year acclimating to anything new. I suspect he’s a creature of habit.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

13 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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.

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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.

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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

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But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

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Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

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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

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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.

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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

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