Equipment
Who will change equipment sponsors in 2016?
At GolfWRX, one of our core purposes is keeping tabs on who’s playing what on tour. A component of that effort is keeping an eye on what we’ll call ESFA (Equipment Sponsorship Free Agency). Of course, manufacturers are loathe to talk and the particulars of who is becoming a free agent aren’t traditionally made public.
But that shouldn’t stop anyone from speculating! (And it doesn’t!)
We have our ears to the ground, and here are few moves that are being widely discussed.
Gary Woodland, presently a Callaway staffer, is rumored to be defecting to TaylorMade. TaylorMade’s stable is anchored by Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia. Woodland, the No. 60 golfer in the world, would give TMag a young-ish American golfer (Woodland is 31) with Ryan Palmer pushing 40.
Shots of Woodland testing the M1 have shown up in our forums.
Woodland, a University of Kansas alum who originally attended Washburn University on a basketball scholarship, is a cool customer. Twice a winner on the PGA Tour, Woodland finished second twice last year and has put together three solid seasons in a row. He’ll be a nice complement to Dustin Johnson‘s vibe. And like Johnson, Woodland bombs the ball as well (12th on tour in driving distance last year).
World No. 36 Billy Horschel, presently a Ping staffer, ought to be able to continue as the posterboy for Ralph Lauren’s RLX while playing Parsons Xtreme Golf clubs, as is widely assumed he will do in 2016.
Horschel wasn’t able to recapture lightning in a bottle as he did during the 2013-2014 FedEx Cup playoffs. Still, he’s a vibrant personality and a bold dresser: A combination that’s likely to raise PXG’s profile as they seek a foothold on tour.
Here’s Horschel with the PXG logo stitched into his headcovers already. Subjectively, there seems to be more identity between PXG and RLX than Ping and RLX. Add Horschel himself to the mix, and the elements should complement one another.
Also rumored to be making the jump to PXG: Zach Johnson, Davis Love III (who played PXG at the RSM Classic) and Chris Kirk. The three would be defecting from Titleist, Titleist and Callaway respectively. Titleist isn’t known for fighting to retain stars and has always favored a “quantity over quality” approach to staffers. Kirk, for his part, is somewhat lost on a Callaway golf roster that includes five-plus higher-ranked American golfers.
Johnson, last year’s Open Champion, is a significant coup, and while he fits the bill of a the “no-nonsense player” Titleist prefers, he’s also something of a tactician and grinder, which could play well with the industrial-ish PXG weaponry. Assuming Johnson is retaining his Oakley apparel deal and omnipresent sunglasses, those elements dovetail better with PXG than Titleist.
India’s brightest golfing star, Anirban Lahiri, is presently a Cleveland/Srixon staffer. And judging by Cleveland’s tweet, the 28-year-old Lahiri is going to be staying that way for a while.
Cleveland Golf ?@ClevelandGolf Nov 13
We are excited to announce @anirbangolf has agreed to a multi-year contract extension. #Own125
Lahiri, the No. 42 golfer in the world, will be playing primarily on the PGA Tour this season, which is good for brand exposure, especially given stable-leader Keegan Bradley‘s sinking form.
Lahiri’s profile was raised by a fifth-place finish at the PGA Championship. More strong play from him, a turnaround from Bradley, and Graeme McDowell‘s continued resurgence would spell good things for the brand.
With Hideki Matsuyama (Srixon), J.B. Holmes and Russell Knox in the stable as well, Cleveland/Srixon looks to be holding its own.
Also widely rumored but largely unsubstantiated at this point: Harold Varner III (presently a Cleveland staffer) joining Callaway, and Brooks Koepka (presently with Titleist) heading to the Swoosh. Cool, athletic, and confident, Koepka to Nike makes sense. The 25-year-old would be a significant coup.
Update: A pair of big-time breaking items from Secret Tour Pro on Twitter:
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
In our forums, one user is sharing details of a recent round in which his playing partner was gaming an…unconventional driving iron.
@AbSWFPGA explained:
“Played with a kid the other day who was a good player and he used a TaylorMade qi max hl 4 iron as a driving iron. He hit it off a lot of tees and it was pretty money. I looked up the 4 iron in that set and it’s 18.5 degrees so that would make for a good driving iron in terms of loft. Has anyone done this and could share some feedback? Thanks”
Our members have been sharing their own perspectives and experiences with unique driving irons in the forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Dave33: “I just got a new set of irons, Ping I540’s, and the 4 iron is 19 degrees. That’s basically as strong as the 2 iron in my 30 yr old custom set its replacing and I used to hit that 2 iron off the tee all the time. The I540 4 iron off the tee is an awesome club. ”
- Santiago Golf: “I have tried this a few times and they always went too high … Never really the stinger height I was looking for. I got a IDEA Pro style hybrid and it was the perfect mid launching club I was looking for.”
- DircaDelta: “I basically do this with a JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro 4iron (19 degrees). I tried a few driving irons but honestly this probably fits me best due to the shorter length, but it’s still hot and still has a wide sole which is nice. Great off the tee, turf, and punchy shots to lay-up on par 5s or get out of trouble. It has the same shaft as my irons (Modus 120X) so I could probably get more out of it from a different shaft, but it fits what I need in terms of gapping from my 5 iron (JPX Forged) and gapping and launch from my short 5 wood. I think it’s a good (and often cheaper) route so long as you can find one that suits your eye and gapping needs. I don’t like offset so the HMP’s help in the optics department over a “more typical” game improvement iron.”
Entire Thread: “Game Improvement Iron as a Driving Iron?”
If you’re not already a member, join is in the GolfWRX forums today!
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Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Samuel
Dec 17, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Interesting to see that many of the best tour pro’s we have seen in the past few decades seemed to have started with Titleist. Does anyone else know of any major players that had staff deals early on such as Tiger, Sergio, Casey, Mickelson and Rory?
It would be great to see more players go “un-branded” so that we could see what they really want to play.
Speedy
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Which golf club brands show a profit these days?
Connor
Dec 9, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Sergio tweeted yesterday in reply to something that has since been deleted, “I don’t know hwere you’ve heard that. Why would I leave the best golfing brand in the world?! @TaylorMadeGolf” and “Well guys don’t believe everything you hear and even more from someone that post things that are not true @secrettourpro without showing his face. All 14 clubs in my bag have been @TaylorMadeGolf for more than 6 years now. So there you have it.”
So there you have it, cross him off the list.
JD
Dec 9, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Does Anyone think if DJ went to Under Armour, TM would try to retain him on the clubs side of the fence, or do you think he would split off entirely. As someone said early i believe he seems like he would fit well with Nike. I think he moves the needle more than the other players listed in this article.
Eddie
Dec 9, 2015 at 1:24 pm
They, like Nike, are an all or nothing brand. Do any of their other pros wear anything but Adidas?
JD
Dec 9, 2015 at 4:02 pm
John Senden, Camillo Villegas, and there have been a few others in the past if I recall.
Jacob
Dec 9, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Nike requires their players to use all Nike clubs, which TM doesn’t. Also a lot of the TM guys wear Ashworth instead of adidas, because they prefer the classic look. And there’s also some TM guys who don’t even wear adidas shoes, so TM all in all is a bit looser than Nike.
Sam
Dec 10, 2015 at 12:09 pm
TM doesn’t require much from their players. They just want the club count to say they are the #1 driver. If you look at a majority of their players, their bags are not all TM clubs. Many have different wedges or even irons.
The players are allowed to pretty much wear whatever they want, unless they have some deal with TM or Ashworth (Justin Rose), but many wear Footjoy or other brands.
Nike staff members are only allowed to use all Nike clubs (unless they are a new staff member and they have a transition period to get to all Nike stuff). They are also required to wear all Nike clothing and cannot have any other logos on their apparel. Nike doesn’t want their athletes to look like NASCAR drivers with logos everywhere. The only thing they can change is their bag, for another sponsor or adding a few logos on the Nike staff bag.
JD
Dec 9, 2015 at 12:06 pm
I heard Dustin Johnson to Callaway next year. You heard it here first.
WILSON!!
Dec 9, 2015 at 1:56 pm
and last
AMF
Dec 9, 2015 at 11:43 pm
No way. No way.
Paul
Jan 5, 2016 at 8:59 pm
He was until they told him that the putter he would play was called a White Hot not China White.
redneckrooster
Dec 9, 2015 at 10:54 am
I would like to see(read)(hear) more about the way pay is broken down ie How much is a certain brand driver , ball, cap &etc. worth. I had heard that all a player would need to do is play a few holes and get several thousand bucks (tee up money)drop out and go home to rest to get over a nagging injury etc. Give some examples of how the pay is structured on avg.
mhendon
Dec 8, 2015 at 9:03 pm
I can’t believe there’s no mention of my possible switch from Mizuno to Titleist. Switching after 15 years with the same irons would seem to be bigger news, lol. Now if it wasn’t for that thousand dollar price tag it would be a done deal.
WTF
Dec 8, 2015 at 11:39 am
I am already so grateful for all of the priceless things I have learned from visiting this site just this first time:
1. Apparently “feel” in golf is much much different than “feel” in tennis. In golf, “feel” is actually sound (who knew) so it doesn’t really matter what brand or type of golf club you use. Therefore if you play golf for a living, you might as well use the ones that the manufacturer’s pay you the most to use – apparently, they can tune ’em to anyone’s liking simply by using some of that mysterious poly-fiber they use in the construction of their golfing apparel.
2. I always thought that golf was just a fun game to play, but now I know it is actually only a marketing vehicle and nothing more.
3. The golf fanboy mantra is : “Love your logo. . . Hope you win. . .”
Help me if I have missed anything. . .
AlB
Dec 11, 2015 at 5:43 am
You’re not missing a thing. The pro golfers today are franchised businessmen. They’re paid to play and perform. Along with that they are highly visible advertising billboards. I think the biggest golf-whore is Ian Poulter. I saw him playing earlier this year and he had 5 different sponsor names on his visor and 7 different names on his shirt.
Steve
Dec 7, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Sergio is rumored to be leaving and also developing a clothing brand of his own… interesting.
golfraven
Dec 7, 2015 at 5:17 pm
I still see a Major won by Sergio if he switches to Titleist. Go on Sergio, no more TM BS.
Jacob
Dec 7, 2015 at 6:50 pm
You realize that there’s as many TM hats in the top 20 as Titleist?
Dj
Dec 7, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Uh, what would Titleist clubs to to help his brain?
Jacob
Dec 7, 2015 at 6:52 pm
There’s just as many TM players in the top 20 as Titleist.
Jordan Caron
Dec 12, 2015 at 4:24 am
Weak argument. Did you miss the mention that Titleist is “quality not quantity” unlike TM? The odds clearly favour TM as they sponsor just about anyone. Titleist doesn’t.
Patrick
Dec 12, 2015 at 7:46 pm
The article actually says quantity over quality…which is not true of Titleist…however…nobody else is switching to Hopkins Golf after Vijay??? LOL
john
Dec 7, 2015 at 7:59 pm
titleist golf clubs were designed in coffee breaks inbetween making their next (unchanged) golf ball range lol.
Jacob
Dec 7, 2015 at 3:41 pm
I can’t see adidas losing DJ to UA and PXG… and does Sergio with a Vokey really mean he’s going to Titleist? Wasn’t he Titleist in the early 2000s? Koepka makes sense.
Michael
Dec 7, 2015 at 2:32 pm
DJ to PXG
Cuppa
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:27 pm
PXG is not for the average golfer. So it’s not a puzzle. Those $399 set of last year’s Callaway and TM irons are for the average golfer. Do you even know who owns Parsons? The dude’s loaded. He founded GoDaddy. They can compensate plenty. Now go away and have a nice cup of STFU
ron
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Totally unnecessary hostility. Your response would have been fine without the last sentence. So much anger, OMG!!
Woof
Dec 7, 2015 at 4:09 pm
I thought it was funny
LC4
Dec 8, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Parsons is the founder GoDaddy, he is funding himself. No only that, he grew up poor and worked hard for everything he has.
Carlos Danger
Dec 7, 2015 at 12:53 pm
This sickens me. All these players care about is the money nowadays. They would sell their souls for a few extra bucks. What ever happened to staying loyal to the companies that believed in you and invested in you?
HAHAHAHAHAHA….Just kidding. Money is awesome.
As a great man once said…”Cash rules everything around me…dolla dolla bills y’all”
Will
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:38 pm
lol, nice
Bobby Marcus
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:40 pm
You sound jealous and broke
cody
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:45 pm
this comment is a joke right? all the equipment manufactures are basically equal. why not play what pays?? i know i would. Get real, so would you.
Dj
Dec 7, 2015 at 2:10 pm
This happens in every day jobs. It’s not limited to players.
Scooter McGavin
Dec 8, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Jack?
Carlos Danger
Dec 8, 2015 at 10:39 pm
You nerds have got to be kidding me…ofcourse I was kidding, as I said in my comment “money is awesome”
Ty Webb
Dec 7, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Updates to the rumors are TMAG was unsuccessful buying out Woodland’s Under Armour contract so he is being courted by PXG and Ping.
Supposedly a possibility of DJ going to PXG and Under Armour.
This is a new one….Garcia to Titleist? Supposedly playing SM6 Vokey’s over in Asis this weekend.
Will
Dec 7, 2015 at 1:37 pm
“spieth would be ditched”….UA will never ever ever ever ditch Spieth
Will
Dec 7, 2015 at 2:01 pm
yup. Still would put the same comment though….and yes I know you said ‘you don’t see any of them going anywhere soon.’
cgasucks
Dec 7, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Ditching a #1 player in the world who won 2 majors in a calendar year for a top 60 player…what idiotic thinking….
emb
Dec 7, 2015 at 12:31 pm
thought DJ was going to nike as well, wasn’t he wearing TW shoes at the hero this week?
DufWaggle
Dec 7, 2015 at 3:30 pm
DJ was wearing Adidas Primeknit Pureboost tennis shoes at the hero this week. I believe he cut his foot and was looking for a comfortable option and those fit the bill.
Will
Dec 7, 2015 at 12:24 pm
would be nice to see Koepka going to nike….he seems like he was made for them. Parsons golf bringin it this year.