Equipment
TaylorMade and Sergio Garcia part ways after 15 years… where to next?
When we recently spotted Sergio Garcia with a custom Odyssey Toulon putter, and then later using a Callaway Mack Daddy wedge in competition (pictured below), it seemed to be only a matter of time that TaylorMade and Garcia would soon part ways. That day has now come, as TaylorMade announced in a statement today that the Garcia-TaylorMade marriage has ended after 15 years.
“Today, after a memorable 15 year partnership with Sergio Garcia, we have mutually agreed on a release from the remaining years of his TaylorMade contract,” a TaylorMade spokesperson told us. “It has been an honor to play a role in his performance throughout his career, including The Players Championship, 19 worldwide wins, Ryder Cup heroics and his 2017 Masters win. We congratulate Sergio on a career year and wish him all the best for the future.”
Using a bag full of TaylorMade golf clubs, Garcia won the 2017 Masters to get himself off of the “best player without a major” list. As highlighted by TaylorMade’s statement, since 2003 when he joined TaylorMade from Titleist, Garcia also won The Players Championship, had 19 worldwide wins, and constantly tormented Team USA in the Ryder Cup on alternating years.
As his recent club testing decisions imply, the most likely candidate for Garcia’s next club sponsor would be Callaway, but the company has yet to comment on the matter. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
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Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
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LEWIS
Nov 3, 2017 at 10:10 am
Looks like its mizuno irons now guys
Forsbrand
Oct 11, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Is I because he has just been advised that Rory and tiger are major shareholders in Taylormade, part of eh private equity buyout?
Mister Tom
Oct 11, 2017 at 10:13 am
Contrary to a lot of people here, my opinion is this isn’t a decision that Garcia made. This isn’t his decision. This is a young man’s game and the needle is being pushed due to all the “2011” high-school graduates. Adidas, Taylormade, Nike, etc, are looking to use their sponsorship dollars with player brands that grow the game and grow their revenue, and Garcia isn’t growing a brand’s awareness despite having the Masters under his belt. People aren’t buying Adidas shoes or Taylormade clubs because Sergio sports their logo, they are because Dustin Johnson carries the gear.
Sponsorship for a young man is an island paradise and an old man’s graveyard. For example, Phil isn’t moving the needle much, and I would imagine Callaway has or is renegotiating his contract terms. I mean, how can Callaway afford to continue to pay Mickelson $35MM/yr, and why would they? He cannot hit a fairway, so why would that help Callaway’s driver sales?
All this talk about Tiger and his new “irons” and his swing? Seriously? The game has moved on and has embraced the young guns.
Thomas A
Oct 11, 2017 at 11:35 am
Callaway just signed Phil to a career contract. Sergio definitely moves the needle internationally.
smitty
Oct 11, 2017 at 1:16 am
TM dumped Sergio to make way for Tiger’s comeback…. and they are betting a big bagful of $$$$$ on the Resurrection of The Tigerman.
Shane
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Sergio Garcia had a lot of talent but has under performed over the years and it was not due to equipment. In light of his Masters win Garcia probably wanted more money and TM said no because from a marketing perspective they don’t need him as they have new blood like John Rahm to capture the Spanish market.
Anders
Oct 12, 2017 at 7:23 am
This.
alvin
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Sergio Sergio, I bought TM clubs because of you!!
I love you Sergio but what should I do with my new TM clubs now that you are leaving TM?
I’m verklempt ….. oooh Sergio
UnclePhil
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:09 pm
I just read that Target is making a strong run at him with his own custom line of Northwesterns!
Reno
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 am
Who cares.
golfraven
Oct 10, 2017 at 8:20 am
I think he also lost it after recent putter incident. Please give him a ‘decent’ putter for heaven’s sake!
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:39 am
It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.
Head case. What a waste of talent.
ibo
Nov 8, 2017 at 2:02 am
$46M throughout his career. 20 international victories including a The Players and The Masters. Truly a waste of talent.
golfraven
Oct 10, 2017 at 8:17 am
I guess Sergio can’t hit it as far as the driver promises (he should hit it longer than Rory after what TM claimed in recent years) so he is taking off the hat and quits it – simples. I can’t blame him, who wants to have the shortest in the bunch?
Jacked_Loft
Oct 10, 2017 at 4:21 am
More than likely it’s because that Sergio originally signed with Adidas, and the TM contract was part of the total deal. Now that Adidas and TM have parted, TM would probably have to pay more for SG than before, and that would be just too much all factors considered.
Robert Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:44 pm
He’s in talks to go under contract as I type.
Nobody signs players like we do. Period.
rymail00
Oct 9, 2017 at 7:11 pm
HAHA
Robert Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:43 pm
How soon till your post is removed?
Nobody deletes posts like we do. Period.
Jack Nash
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Only a matter of time before he stepped away from the garbage. He got them their Major, now he smartens up.
Steven
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 pm
That garbage is the best driver and 5 wood I’ve hit in my life. It’s kind of stupid to call the best drivers on the PGA Tour garbage.
And the Champions Tour Players who don’t get paid to play a driver? Most are using M2. They seem to like the garbage a lot.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:40 am
You mean the driver that they are paying the most to the players to use. These guys could use anything.
M. Vegas
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Where’s the acid faces that want Sergio with Mizuno
Brian
Oct 10, 2017 at 9:44 am
You mean “where’re”, right? “Where is the acid faces…” Does that sound right to you?
M. Vegas
Oct 10, 2017 at 2:17 pm
No, I like where’s…
I feel like that’s how I would say it if I was talking
DT
Oct 10, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Since “acid faces” is plural, “where are” is grammatically correct.
Steve Hamer
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:14 pm
there club are made for them not we get in the stores no mater what name is on them
M. Vegas
Oct 10, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Almost coherent Gump
Garry Pierce
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:54 pm
I lost respect for him when hawked a luger in the cup, he is a.
LOSER
Sergio
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:20 pm
you are the loser. he won a lot of tournament, how about you?
JThunder
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:00 pm
He sold a gun during the Ryder Cup?
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:44 am
I call him spit boy. If he’d have done that in my group I’d have kicked his a$$.
Bob Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:28 pm
I’d like to welcome Sergio Garcia to the PXG family.
Darren Rovell
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Sources Close to ESPN: Sergio to PXG on a 15 year deal worth up to $690 million.
Garry Pierce
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:59 pm
I can’t believe that Parson’s going to pay that kind of money. I don’t see his irons at the courses where the guys that have the cash to buy them. Las Vegas – Palm Springs – LA area or in Phoenix. Where they selling?
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Alaska and Siberia, I hear they’re really good for ice fishing
henry
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:21 pm
my god Bob shut up
MB
Oct 9, 2017 at 10:03 pm
It’s Boss not Bob
moses
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:04 pm
.690 million. Fixed it for ya. 🙂
William Boulton
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:39 am
Congrats
Great player
I’d like to try your clubs anytime soon
WestPhi
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:59 pm
I wonder if PXG will take a stab at him…?
henry
Oct 9, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Parsons claims “to PXG” when any player becomes available. I mean for gods sake they just signed Paige Spirinac, whose only job in golf is to look pretty.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:45 am
Wooooohoooooo!!!!
DaJudge
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Sergio is abandoning TM because he doesn’t want to be associated with a company that sells Fake-Forged P-790 cast steel body clubs. It’s simply unethical and devious and Sergio is a man of principles.
Joe Mcgillicuti
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Wake up and get in touch with reality guys. He’s already overpaid and now that he won the Masters, his price tag has gone up per his agent. He’s on the back 9 people. And now that he is married, that old work ethic will be a tad bit harder to execute. TaylorMade got his best years out of him. Callaway usually overpays guys like this after he’s been squeezed of all the juice. Once the kid comes, priorities will REALLY change
ND Hickman
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Let’s be frank. Does it really matter to us which club he plays? All credit to him. We wish him well.
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Hello Frank
ND Hickman
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:47 am
All credit to Frank.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:46 am
Spit boy can clean the spittoons.
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Aaaaaah I see. It’s just more money that Callaway are willing to pay, for a guy who just won a major, who has that power of negotiation that TM wasn’t willing to give that extra bit more in renegotiation. Such a shame. The agents have so much power.
Matt
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:09 pm
This is a TM decision. They’re letting almost all their players go.
Slob
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:11 pm
And……. you’re an idiot.
JThunder
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:03 pm
What’s “such a shame” about any of this? It’s two multi-million dollar companies fighting over a millionaire wearing their hat. Want some better examples of shameful behavior by millionaires? I bet I could find a few.
Slob
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Sarcasm, you fool
Jack Matthews
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Interesting. I wonder if he does go to Callaway. It seems like their new driver (GBB Epic) is becoming very popular on tour. Also, I wonder if “playing what the pros play” is as important as it was a decade ago. It’s clear the OEMs are fighting it out for market share now that the club business is in somewhat of a decline. I guess having big name endorsers is still one way to compete.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:47 am
These guys are all Brand ho’s.
TBone
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Wish he’d go back and to titleist. The 818 line is so pure.
rymail00
Oct 9, 2017 at 7:20 pm
That’d be cool. But Titleist seems to get them early and then they go to OEM’s who offer more.
Tom54
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am
I see nothing wrong with Sergio switching golf equipment. Let’s face it to all us avid golf nuts can you honestly say you’ve stayed with one brand for 15 years. That’s half the fun trying the newest items out on the market regardless of who makes them. Other than being paid why should they be any different.
Matt
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am
TM rumored to be going to a four (star) player sponsorship system. DJ, Rory, Rahm and JDay. Not sure what will happen to Rose, Woods etc, but Rosey likely to be the next to jump ship. They just need to spread the announcements out so it doesn’t look as bad.
AceVenturi
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:50 am
He is going to Callaway, 100%.
This will hurt TaylorMade as not only they’ve seen a major drop in sales and marketshare in every major region due to the Epic story, but also gets corroborated by one of their major Icons changing bag mid-contract. Sergio has been in TMs advertising each year for the last 15.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am
Who cares about a company that brings out “THE NEXT TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH” every 6 months?
Duncan Marc
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:24 am
Maybe he got tired of being asked to switch clubs every 6 weeks….
Shane
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Exactly. MAYBE he asked for more, or it was just time for a change. Funny how everyone seems quick to call the guy out! Always liked the guy and wish him the best, wherever he winds up!
cgasucks
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Yeah…no matter which OEM he winds up with he’ll be fine career wise…
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am
You’d play with a guy that spits in the cup?
Richard Tickle
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:21 am
i bet he go pxg they make best clubsin all of golf. BOOMBABBY!
PAUL
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:46 am
YOURE ALL WRONG! i HAVE HEARD fROM rEPUTABLE SOURCE HES GOING TO wILSON sTAFF!
Mike
Oct 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Paul that wouldn’t surprise me one bit, Wilson make good irons, but he might just try Srixon ??? progressive iron makers
ILoveHateGolf
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:21 pm
I’ll bet he doesn’t. Regardless, at least a little effort on the grammar would be appreciated, Richard. Jesus….
Richard Trickle
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm
lEAVE jESUS OUT OF THIS. yOU BEET hE doeSNT GO pXG hUH? rEAL SMART GUYYV YOU arE!
cgasucks
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:47 am
Fentanyl is a very bad drug..please get help. Besides Wilson can’t afford Garcia…PXG…possibly..
cgasucks
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:14 am
If Garcia switched when his TM contract expired it makes a lot of sense and no one will bat an eye. But in this case Garcia got out in mid-contract which will leave a lot of questions on the table…just like Mickelson when he left Titleist for Callaway in mid-contract.