Tour News
Callaway hires Nike Golf ball guru Rock Ishii
Callaway has hired Nike Golf ball ball guru Hideyuki “Rock” Ishii, making him Senior Director of Advanced Golf Ball Research.
“Adding Rock to our already exceptional ball team will strengthen our ability to investigate new construction methods and improve our evaluation of golf ball performance, leading to better products for golfers at every level,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Callaway’s Senior Vice President of R&D.
Ishii was Nike Golf’s Senior Director of Innovation for Golf Balls before the company’s announcement that it would stop producing golf clubs and balls. He was part of Nike’s original hard goods team, starting with the company in 1996.
During his time with Nike, Ishii worked closely with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and others to develop golf balls to their exact specifications, including the ball Woods used to win the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a record 15 shots.
“By further investing in R&D, at a time when we believe others are or will be forced to pull back, we view this as an excellent opportunity to further strengthen our technical position and build for the future,” said Chip Brewer, President & CEO, Callaway Golf.
Last month, Callaway acquired putter company Toulon Design, led by former TaylorMade Senior Vice President of Product Creatiomn Sean Toulon. Toulon is now General Manager of the Odyssey putter brand, as well as a senior vice president at Callaway Golf.
According to Golf Datatech, Callaway is the fastest growing major golf ball brand since 2013.
Related: Our first look at Callaway’s 2017 GBB Epic driver
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Dan
Nov 6, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Based on a number of these comments, Callaway’s future ball offerings will be awful then, surely, seeing as Nike’s balls were so terrible, when designed by Rock Ishii.
Mike Honcho
Nov 4, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Now if Callaway will get off their adoption of the TM driver product cycle, they’ll be a true force and leader.
Daniel
Nov 4, 2016 at 12:24 am
Tiger go to Callaway?….
RAT
Nov 3, 2016 at 6:52 pm
Since when was Nike ever a great golf ball! THE ONLY GOLF THING NIKE HAS BEEN SOME WHAT GOOD AT IS CLOTHING , NOT SHOES with that giant swoosh on the top of the toes, UGLY…
I believe Callaway got stuck.!!!!
SteveID
Nov 4, 2016 at 1:21 am
Thanks for the ALL CAPS, chief.
Juice
Nov 4, 2016 at 9:48 am
Your name is perfect!
Ben
Nov 4, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Agreed. Anyone test out top of the line Nike’s on a monitor? At least for me they go shorter, spin much less off short irons/wedges and go lower on all other shots. Every costco ball I’ve bought is better than the Nike’s. No comparison…
Prime21
Nov 5, 2016 at 6:43 am
Stick w/ the Costco chief, it’s better for ladies swing speeds. Nike’s softest premium ball spun less than the v1x, which is why you hit everything lower, you simply could not launch it. If one cannot compress a ball, it doesn’t fly high thus far because it doesn’t stay in the air. You should probably try that Noodle ball too!
Mike
Nov 3, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Idk how I feel about a guy named “Rock” making golf balls.
COGolfer
Nov 3, 2016 at 8:40 pm
If you’ve ever hit any of the Nike balls, you’ll understand where the name comes from.
Jonathan
Nov 3, 2016 at 5:13 pm
I think this is, in part, a ploy to get McIlroy. Rory has stated that the biggest change for him, and the one he will take the longest with, is the golf ball. Rory is really happy with the ball he’s playing now and having the guy that designed that ball at Callaway likely brings Callaway into play. Just my $0.02.
Ben
Nov 4, 2016 at 4:38 pm
why can’t he just play a prov1 and have them print something else on the cover?
moneypowerrespect
Nov 3, 2016 at 3:06 pm
great move – nike rzn tour is probably the best ball out currently. Rory won’t be needing to worry about his depleting his 3 year supply. He’ll just get Ishii to make him nike rzn tour balls with hex dimples.
Mark
Nov 3, 2016 at 11:51 am
Seriously? For every great ball Nike made they put out another dozen pieces of junk.
Voltman
Nov 3, 2016 at 11:19 am
Very smart move from Callaway. Maybe Tiger and Rory joining Callaway soon?
Tom
Nov 3, 2016 at 1:10 pm
that’s a big ask.