Justin Rose to Honma

[Double Dodger]

Blades is blades. He’s not as pretentious as Tiger or Rory. Bet you don’t even notice a thing aside from the logo on his bag

 

That is akin to saying ‘shafts are shafts’.

[300_yard_drives]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

[jll62]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

[J13]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

[QuigleyDU]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

[jll62]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

 

The TMaG divestiture is only a year old (Oct 2017). I have no doubt that the group that purchased TM will be looking to make a profit soon, but a year seems a little early to get out. Hard to enact any real cost savings in that short amount of time without slashing and burning, which hasn't happened.

 

In any case, I really hope the Honma rumors aren't true. I don't want Mark King anywhere near TaylorMade again. Perhaps some of their product cycle decisions were mandated by the adidas Group's growth targets, but it all happened under his watch. Don't want to see those days again.

[KennyP]

Putter will be interesting. Rose has always been faithful to TM with the putter - I think he even used a Nubbins for a while!

 

Now he's no longer with TM will he go Odyssey?

[TinkerGolfMan]

Looking forward to Honma JR Phase 1's.

Yeah can't wait to see these! LOL

[jll62]

Putter will be interesting. Rose has always been faithful to TM with the putter - I think he even used a Nubbins for a while!

 

Now he's no longer with TM will he go Odyssey?

 

A few weeks ago there were rumors of him using an Axis putter. However, he seems to have settled on that Ardmore after much tinkering over the past couple of seasons. I'd be a little surprised to see him use something else, at least in the near future.

[delmer]

It will be an interesting move. I'm not a big fan of the look of their clubs but this will give them a lot of publicity.

[OldTomMorris]

^^ I think the "Tour World" CBs Honma do are a very nice looking clubs.

 

http://www.honmagolf.co.jp/en/item/club/iron.html

[third-times-a-charm]

Edwin Watts here has been pushing Honma pretty hard. My buddy just got a set of irons and theyre pretty nice.

 

A retired LPGA player at my club also plays them.

[Shanks2424]

I would play them I love the looks of the tour world drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges

[TK3309]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

Isn't Rory's contract rumored to be 10 years and expire in 2027?

[lonscicles]

Intresting change, will be intruiged to see how this fares for him in upcoming season.

[rkelso184]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

Isn't Rory's contract rumored to be 10 years and expire in 2027?

 

Rory and TM have just done the junior kits. No way would Rory leave. He struggled after the Nike change, I don't feel he would do that to himself again especially since TM make everyone proto irons so they get what they want

[Thayneil]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

Isn't Rory's contract rumored to be 10 years and expire in 2027?

 

Rory and TM have just done the junior kits. No way would Rory leave. He struggled after the Nike change, I don't feel he would do that to himself again especially since TM make everyone proto irons so they get what they want

 

Rory struggles with the constant change in Drivers.He has to play the most up to date version

[jll62]

Rory struggles with the constant change in Drivers.He has to play the most up to date version

 

I know a lot was made of his recent comments about having to switch to the new driver next year, but all of that has been blown way out of proportion. Since signing and endorsement deal with TaylorMade, he's played the M2 in 2017 and the M3 in 2018. That's it. He hasn't been required to constantly change drivers because the drivers have not constantly changed.

 

Now, he has tested and put into play many versions of the M3 this season, but that's on him for continuing to tinker with different shafts and settings. He wasn't required to do so by TaylorMade. If it's true that he found a driver he liked in the last event of the year, then he shouldn't have much issue adapting that to the new one in 2019.

[marmaduk]

 

I know a lot was made of his recent comments about having to switch to the new driver next year, but all of that has been blown way out of proportion. Since signing and endorsement deal with TaylorMade, he's played the M2 in 2017 and the M3 in 2018. That's it. He hasn't been required to constantly change drivers because the drivers have not constantly changed.

 

Now, he has tested and put into play many versions of the M3 this season, but that's on him for continuing to tinker with different shafts and settings. He wasn't required to do so by TaylorMade. If it's true that he found a driver he liked in the last event of the year, then he shouldn't have much issue adapting that to the new one in 2019.

 

lol you just completely disagreed with yourself there.

[jll62]

I know a lot was made of his recent comments about having to switch to the new driver next year, but all of that has been blown way out of proportion. Since signing and endorsement deal with TaylorMade, he's played the M2 in 2017 and the M3 in 2018. That's it. He hasn't been required to constantly change drivers because the drivers have not constantly changed.

 

Now, he has tested and put into play many versions of the M3 this season, but that's on him for continuing to tinker with different shafts and settings. He wasn't required to do so by TaylorMade. If it's true that he found a driver he liked in the last event of the year, then he shouldn't have much issue adapting that to the new one in 2019.

 

lol you just completely disagreed with yourself there.

 

No, I didn't. In your reply, you conveniently left out the post to which I was replying. It said, "Rory struggles with the constant change in Drivers.He has to play the most up to date version"

 

What I was pointing out is that playing the "most up-to-date version" has nothing to do with Rory's struggles, as there have only been two models for him in the two seasons he's been with TaylorMade. In my opinion, that post was clearly referencing the comments Rory made a few weeks ago when he made a shaft change and a few other tweaks to his driver setup during his last event of the season:

 

"Unfortunately it’s a driver that’s only going to last a week because I have to get a new one next year again, but at least it gives me a better chance to win this week, I guess."

 

As I stated in my reply, he's been trying different shafts and settings in his M3 all season in trying to eliminate a right miss, but that's a far different thing that having to continually change to a new driver version, as the original post stated.

[delmer]

Rory struggles with the constant change in Drivers.He has to play the most up to date version

 

I know a lot was made of his recent comments about having to switch to the new driver next year, but all of that has been blown way out of proportion. Since signing and endorsement deal with TaylorMade, he's played the M2 in 2017 and the M3 in 2018. That's it. He hasn't been required to constantly change drivers because the drivers have not constantly changed.

 

Now, he has tested and put into play many versions of the M3 this season, but that's on him for continuing to tinker with different shafts and settings. He wasn't required to do so by TaylorMade. If it's true that he found a driver he liked in the last event of the year, then he shouldn't have much issue adapting that to the new one in 2019.

 

I don't think Rory's problem is changing drivers I think it's drive and motivation. I hope the change works out for Rose but if I were giving him advice I would've told him to stick with Taylormade. You might leave some endorsement money on the table but at the end of the day you're better off dancing with the company who brought you.

[ronbo]

Honma is a business decision. I know a couple players with Honma in Asia and they get prize money matched as bonus of any win. I would ASSUME Rose has the same deal and is gambling on himself where he has higher potential earnings based off his play.

 

They're all business decisions, right? I assume TM is unwilling/unable to pay the endorsement fee that Rose will now command as a #1/#2 player in the world; not that unlike Sergio becoming a major champion and changing endorsement categories.

 

TM is focused on Tiger, Rory, DJ, and Rahm. I personally think Rory will leave after his current contract is over but that's purely my opinion

 

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

 

The TMaG divestiture is only a year old (Oct 2017). I have no doubt that the group that purchased TM will be looking to make a profit soon, but a year seems a little early to get out. Hard to enact any real cost savings in that short amount of time without slashing and burning, which hasn't happened.

 

In any case, I really hope the Honma rumors aren't true. I don't want Mark King anywhere near TaylorMade again. Perhaps some of their product cycle decisions were mandated by the adidas Group's growth targets, but it all happened under his watch. Don't want to see those days again.

TM sales is a done deal, That's why they pulled out of the PGA to take 2 Million off the books. Honma wants to be the Biggest Golf Brand Globally. Mark King didn't come over to consult, he want's back in... Could be wrong, but that's my take..

[BewareTheGlowball]

Blades is blades. He's not as pretentious as Tiger or Rory. Bet you don't even notice a thing aside from the logo on his bag

 

That is akin to saying 'shafts are shafts'.

 

As long as he has the same shafts,and lie angle... the quality will be higher than american counterparts so I highly doubt irons will make a difference at all aside from a potentially positive one, wedges as well. Going from a tolerance level of +/- 7-8 grams to one of +/- 1(to be fair honma may be +/- 2-3 not sure what they are currently after company changes) gram can only help a player.

[the bishop]

Blades is blades. He's not as pretentious as Tiger or Rory. Bet you don't even notice a thing aside from the logo on his bag

 

That is akin to saying 'shafts are shafts'.

 

As long as he has the same shafts,and lie angle... the quality will be higher than american counterparts so I highly doubt irons will make a difference at all aside from a potentially positive one, wedges as well. Going from a tolerance level of +/- 7-8 grams to one of +/- 1(to be fair honma may be +/- 2-3 not sure what they are currently after company changes) gram can only help a player.

Pros don't buy off the rack so from a tolerance perspective there should be no difference since everything they play is handpicked, including iron heads for weight. I think an iron change is one of the easiest transitions for a pro to make so he can continue to use his TM woods as long as he wants or as long as it takes to transition comfortably into Homna if that is his intention.

[jll62]

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

 

The TMaG divestiture is only a year old (Oct 2017). I have no doubt that the group that purchased TM will be looking to make a profit soon, but a year seems a little early to get out. Hard to enact any real cost savings in that short amount of time without slashing and burning, which hasn't happened.

 

In any case, I really hope the Honma rumors aren't true. I don't want Mark King anywhere near TaylorMade again. Perhaps some of their product cycle decisions were mandated by the adidas Group's growth targets, but it all happened under his watch. Don't want to see those days again.

 

TM sales is a done deal, That's why they pulled out of the PGA to take 2 Million off the books. Honma wants to be the Biggest Golf Brand Globally. Mark King didn't come over to consult, he want's back in... Could be wrong, but that's my take..

 

You may very well be right. However, a couple of weeks ago I had a conversation about the PGA Show with a person from TaylorMade who was involved in the decision not to attend. If the decision was all M&A related, he obviously wouldn't have shared that info with me, but I have no reason to doubt what I was told.

 

Honma had every chance to buy TM from adidas two years ago for a decent price and they didn't. Did Mark King get hired in August and all of the sudden the strategy changed? And I still think it's early for the group that bought TM to flip them. It's only been a year and now is when they're executing on the plans that have been put in place.

[BIG STU]

I would play them I love the looks of the tour world drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges

I have been playing one of their G1-X drivers for a couple of years now--- It hits great for me----- I have had people ask what kind of driver it is? I tell them and they look perplexed. The adjustment system is a lot different from anything else out there and uses a special wrench. None of the standard Torx head wrenches will adjust it properly---- It is hard for me to explain or put my thoughts on here but if you go on their website you can see---- But overall I see it as good marketing for Homna by signing Rose. Most mainstream golfers not WRXers know nothing of the brand

[delmer]

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

 

The TMaG divestiture is only a year old (Oct 2017). I have no doubt that the group that purchased TM will be looking to make a profit soon, but a year seems a little early to get out. Hard to enact any real cost savings in that short amount of time without slashing and burning, which hasn't happened.

 

In any case, I really hope the Honma rumors aren't true. I don't want Mark King anywhere near TaylorMade again. Perhaps some of their product cycle decisions were mandated by the adidas Group's growth targets, but it all happened under his watch. Don't want to see those days again.

 

TM sales is a done deal, That's why they pulled out of the PGA to take 2 Million off the books. Honma wants to be the Biggest Golf Brand Globally. Mark King didn't come over to consult, he want's back in... Could be wrong, but that's my take..

 

You may very well be right. However, a couple of weeks ago I had a conversation about the PGA Show with a person from TaylorMade who was involved in the decision not to attend. If the decision was all M&A related, he obviously wouldn't have shared that info with me, but I have no reason to doubt what I was told.

 

Honma had every chance to buy TM from adidas two years ago for a decent price and they didn't. Did Mark King get hired in August and all of the sudden the strategy changed? And I still think it's early for the group that bought TM to flip them. It's only been a year and now is when they're executing on the plans that have been put in place.

 

Honma purchasing TM is actually a solid idea for them but funding it could be tough. Honma seems to be pushing really hard into apparel so now that Adidas is out of the picture what better way to get into pro shops than buy Taylormade and all of the accounts that come with it? It's a lot easier and faster than hiring a bunch of reps to go pound the pavement. To be able to offer an ultra premium line of clubs, the full Taylormade catalog and then whatever apparel they want to do in one account would be advantageous to just having Honma clubs and apparel essentially as a startup in the US.

 

I thought that Under Armor would've done well to buy TM to get it's accounts but they have done a good job building their account list without buying them although they had the advantage of being a very well known brand in the where a vast majority of the golfing public here has never heard of Honma.

[the bishop]

it will not make any difference in the long run, lots of rumors out there that Honma is in talks to buy TM. the investment group that bought TM a few years ago is looking to flip it for a profit and get out.

 

The TMaG divestiture is only a year old (Oct 2017). I have no doubt that the group that purchased TM will be looking to make a profit soon, but a year seems a little early to get out. Hard to enact any real cost savings in that short amount of time without slashing and burning, which hasn't happened.

 

In any case, I really hope the Honma rumors aren't true. I don't want Mark King anywhere near TaylorMade again. Perhaps some of their product cycle decisions were mandated by the adidas Group's growth targets, but it all happened under his watch. Don't want to see those days again.

 

TM sales is a done deal, That's why they pulled out of the PGA to take 2 Million off the books. Honma wants to be the Biggest Golf Brand Globally. Mark King didn't come over to consult, he want's back in... Could be wrong, but that's my take..

 

You may very well be right. However, a couple of weeks ago I had a conversation about the PGA Show with a person from TaylorMade who was involved in the decision not to attend. If the decision was all M&A related, he obviously wouldn't have shared that info with me, but I have no reason to doubt what I was told.

 

Honma had every chance to buy TM from adidas two years ago for a decent price and they didn't. Did Mark King get hired in August and all of the sudden the strategy changed? And I still think it's early for the group that bought TM to flip them. It's only been a year and now is when they're executing on the plans that have been put in place.

 

Honma purchasing TM is actually a solid idea for them but funding it could be tough. Honma seems to be pushing really hard into apparel so now that Adidas is out of the picture what better way to get into pro shops than buy Taylormade and all of the accounts that come with it? It's a lot easier and faster than hiring a bunch of reps to go pound the pavement. To be able to offer an ultra premium line of clubs, the full Taylormade catalog and then whatever apparel they want to do in one account would be advantageous to just having Honma clubs and apparel essentially as a startup in the US.

 

I thought that Under Armor would've done well to buy TM to get it's accounts but they have done a good job building their account list without buying them although they had the advantage of being a very well known brand in the where a vast majority of the golfing public here has never heard of Honma.

I'm not sure UA's financials are strong enough to allow them to do something like that.

[delmer]

 

I'm not sure UA's financials are strong enough to allow them to do something like that.

 

At the time that's what I thought as well. I'm no financier but it seems like a company with revenue in the $5B range could pull off a $425M purchase.

[CStephenson17]

 

I'm not sure UA's financials are strong enough to allow them to do something like that.

 

At the time that's what I thought as well. I'm no financier but it seems like a company with revenue in the $5B range could pull off a $425M purchase.

 

I am glad you aren’t a financier. UA already has interest expense of $35 million a year and posted a net loss last year. Add more interest obligation onto that plus extra expenditures for R&D.