Crazy rumor of the day: Justin Rose to Honma?

[Holy Moses]

What’s in the switch for Rose? TM going to drop him? More money with Honma?

[Honman]

Definitely happening. Irons in the bag November, rest to follow. I imagine it's a combination of TM concentrating on a small core of players and Rose doesn't move the needle sales wise for them. And an aggressive offer from Honma.

 

I've hit the new Honma range and was super impressed with the irons and driver. The biggest issue for a player like Rose is if they enforce the rule that players must use Honma graphite shafts in the woods. With his history of being a shaft tinkerer and having a lot of success with Matrix, I think he is a good fit for LA Shafts.

[xxio]

Definitely happening. Irons in the bag November, rest to follow. I imagine it's a combination of TM concentrating on a small core of players and Rose doesn't move the needle sales wise for them saleswise. And an aggressive offer from Honma.

 

I've hit the new Honma range and was super impressed with the irons and driver. The biggest issue for a player like Rose is if they enforce the rule that players must use Honma graphite shafts. With his history of being a shaft tinkered and having a lot of success with Matrix, I think he is a good fit for LA Shafts.

 

I have Japanese golf magazines that have Honma players with x100s and Modus shafts.

 

 

[thevaporz]

^He's talking about Honma proprietary graphite shafts in their woods.

[Honman]

^He's talking about Honma proprietary graphite shafts in their woods.

Yeah edited to make clearer. Typed that off the phone!

[xxio]

Oh ok.

 

I'm sure Honma can make a shaft to match his swing then just paint it retail Vizard graphics.

[Honman]

Oh ok.

 

I'm sure Honma can make a shaft to match his swing then just paint it retail Vizard graphics.

 

I don't disagree with you. However Rose has always tested lots of shafts looking for an edge. I think that is a hard habit to break.

[Aaronwilson_95]

A source of mine in TM told me that Rose isn't the only Englishman joining Honma.. an equipment free agent from last year will be joining him.

 

Tommy Fleetwood??

 

Wasn’t told who but was told they’re both done deals

 

Would imagine Nike free agents are worth a bit less having to wear Nike hats

[thesaxemachine]

His new irons?

 

There are certainly enough models to choose from http://www.honmagolf.co.jp/en/item/club/iron.html

[4rheel]

Honma could always get the shaft Rose wants and paint it to their Vizard graphics. Easy.

[thesaxemachine]

Honma could always get the shaft Rose wants and paint it to their Vizard graphics. Easy.

 

I thought this sort of thing was passé on tour...like when Tmag used to do it for their rocketballz line.

[kmak]

His new irons?

 

There are certainly enough models to choose from http://www.honmagolf.../club/iron.html

 

37 DIFFERENT MODELS!!!

[Honman]

Honma could always get the shaft Rose wants and paint it to their Vizard graphics. Easy.

 

I thought this sort of thing was passé on tour...like when Tmag used to do it for their rocketballz line.

 

Slightly different, other manufacturers aren't going to supply blank shafts like they might to TaylorMade as an example, because there is no chance of Honma working with them. And you can't just paint on top of existing graphics.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Honma can build him great shafts, but I still think he likes having the choice. It'll come down to how quickly they can reverse engineer other shafts I suppose. Maybe they will let this slide to sign him. Who knows.

[Molnar59]

I wonder if Justin Rose is switching to Volvik, too?

 

We should get Bubba Watson's input....

[larciel]

I wonder if Justin Rose is switching to Volvik, too?

 

We should get Bubba Watson's input....

 

What's volvik has to do with honma at all?

[larciel]

His new irons?

 

There are certainly enough models to choose from http://www.honmagolf.../club/iron.html

 

37 DIFFERENT MODELS!!!

 

Not counting the new 747vx

 

 

[JohnFS]

Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

[tgoodspe1991]

Taylormade's cost of adding Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy have to be offset by somebody. Tiger Woods winning any random tournament will move the needle significantly more than Justin Rose winning even two majors in a season.

 

Rose's position in the rankings can command a serious payday from any manufacturer that's willing to foot the bill for brand recognition. In this case, Honma is taking on the task.

 

At the end of the day, professional golfers of any level are contract employees where the only job security is the money that's already in the bank. A big goal is to win tournaments, sure, but it's also to have the most money you can by the end of it all.

[duke2001j]

Taylormade's cost of adding Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy have to be offset by somebody. Tiger Woods winning any random tournament will move the needle significantly more than Justin Rose winning even two majors in a season.

 

Rose's position in the rankings can command a serious payday from any manufacturer that's willing to foot the bill for brand recognition. In this case, Honma is taking on the task.

 

At the end of the day, professional golfers of any level are contract employees where the only job security is the money that's already in the bank. A big goal is to win tournaments, sure, but it's also to have the most money you can by the end of it all.

 

I also heard that because of the way Tiger's incentive laden contract is structured with TaylorMade, and his performance this year, it left less endorsement money to go around. Once TW played in a certain amount of tournaments, returned to form and won a tournament someone from the core TM team was going to leave. I wasn't sure who the odd person out would be, but I guess it is Rose. Unfortunate since I liked the Rose/TM partnership. But they've been together for 20 years, so I guess it's run its course. Rose has never been better and you gotta get those extra endorsement dollars while you can! #StrikeWhileTheIronIsHot

[spdrcrx]

I can see it - No one thought Sergio would switch, he was the face of TM

[SGIL58]

im joining in on this thread 4 pages deep now, but i did see on twitter about a month 1/2 ago from jonathan wall (writer for PGA Tour and equipment guy)...at least i think it was him, but that taylormade was losing a big name player at the start of next year.

 

thinking who had been with taylormade the longest i was thinking rose or dj; i initially thought dj with all his constant putter changes. after hearing some of this other stuff, i could see rose leaving

[Lancj1]

They should just wait a while, Rory will be a youtuber and cost TM about the same as Mark Crossfield costs Titleist before too long

[jlebeane13]

Makes perfect sense.

 

1. Ascend to #1 in the world

 

2. Change out entire bag

 

3. Descend from #1

 

So what excuse do the players that have ascended to world number 1, left all of their clubs the same, the descended from number 1 have? Another daily typical WRX over reaction to something that might happen. This place never disappoints.

 

Relax my man. It was mostly in jest.

Clubs regardless of manufacturer have to be swung, they dont swing themselves. You can give thos guys a bag full of shovels and they will eventually figure it out.

[bladehunter]

Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

 

lol. Some of the comments by the uninformed are funny. Honma is grade A+ quality. He’s taking a step up in quality of they get him into a good fit. Especially in irons.

[fyrglfr]

Just heard that John Daly is ditching Marlboro Red's and switching to Pall Malls.

John is Reds all day, Miller Lite all day.....little funny smoke here and there...bugger sugar to get right. love him

[fyrglfr]

Honma has a big set up in the roger dunn store in santa ana

[Lancj1]

Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

 

lol. Some of the comments by the uninformed are funny. Honma is grade A+ quality. Hes taking a step up in quality of they get him into a good fit. Especially in irons.

 

I had a look at their website. The blades look stunning. I’m sure I’ve seen many of the GI models on pro shop shelves under different brands though ?

 

[kmca]

We all hear how great Japanese golf clubs are, Muira, Honma, Epon, Yururi etc yet their presence on tour and their usage is minimal. It will be interesting to see if his change away from the established big 3 has an influence on other players.

 

Personally I don't think there is a bad set of irons these days they are all very good

[Lancj1]

Just watching the WGC from Shanghai - Justin Rose just hit the top of the leaderboard (recorded so not sure how day three ends). It strikes me that TM would be completely crazy to dump him. They have just gone through his stats - he’s one of the greatest on the planet and frankly puts Rory in a box. He’s just won the Fedex. Maybe something about what Rory might yet do ? Strange old world.

[Holy Moses]

Just watching the WGC from Shanghai - Justin Rose just hit the top of the leaderboard (recorded so not sure how day three ends). It strikes me that TM would be completely crazy to dump him. They have just gone through his stats - he’s one of the greatest on the planet and frankly puts Rory in a box. He’s just won the Fedex. Maybe something about what Rory might yet do ? Strange old world.

 

Rose is a great golfer who doesn’t sell many clubs for Taylor Made