Its official....!

[RWEEKS]

Ernie Els signs with callaway

Per south african golf digest.

Effective Immediately.

[JKB]

Where did you see this

[RWEEKS]

Per south african golf digest.

 

Effective Immediately.

Sirshanksalot.com

[AcesAZ]

LOL, Ernie with x-18's and FT-I ;) :) :)

[budathephat]

He's no longer on the titleist site as a staffer... If thats a word

[Johnny]

He's no longer on the titleist site as a staffer... If thats a word

 

 

that's days old...where have you been ;)

[Johnny]

http://www.golfdigest.co.za/index.php

[ice8888]

huge "get" for callaway. wonder what will be in the bag...

[spiersy]

I think its good news for him look what is did for Phil. Titelist are running out of star who is going to replace him as they lack the superstars. has anyone got picture of him playing Callaway in Thialand.

[onkelbenz]

Since there is no statement from Callaway nor Ernie himself, I wouldn't go as far as to say "official". The link to his sponsorship from Titleist was removed from his own page (ernieels.com) a few hours ago, however.

OB

[TigerFrank]

Please lock this thread. not official until it comes from callaway or Ernie.

[finalist]

I hope Titliest gets someone big to replace the big easy.

[TigerStrong]

Please lock this thread. not official until it comes from callaway or Ernie.

 

;) :good: :) :stop: :) :stop: :tongue: :stop:

[TuffKukae]

Please lock this thread. not official until it comes from callaway or Ernie.

 

 

Even if it were incorrect... it's not like it's gonna change anyones life but Ernies... Relax grasshopper ;)

[MCDavis]

Titleist doesn't need anyone to replace Els. They're the best and they know it...just ask them! ;)

 

Frankly, I think this is smart on Els' part. I think Callaway overall has more to offer than Titleist.

 

It would be great if Els played all custom Ben Hogan irons.

[tpariff]

Please lock this thread. not official until it comes from callaway or Ernie.

 

 

Even if it were incorrect... it's not like it's gonna change anyones life but Ernies... Relax grasshopper ;)

 

Exactly. Do we really expect that a spokesperson from Callaway or Ernie himself are going to log in and state that it's official?

 

If it's being published online through a Golf Digest link, and Titleist has removed Ernie from its site, and the Titleist link is removed from Ernie's site, then you can be pretty sure it's true.

 

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck!

[vanquish007]

WOW!! The trigger eventually got pulled!

 

Good for Ernie!

 

I'm still a ;) :) :)

[littlepingman]

That is crazy. I never thought I would see the day that Els would wear a Callaway hat. Go Ernie!!!

[TuffKukae]

good for Ernie.. I hope it's true.

 

I dont see him in Hogan.. if Callaway is footing the bill it's going to be Callaway in his bag

 

I see a FT-5 and X-forged irons in his future... maybe the vokey's will stay for awhile... he's been having so many putting related issues lately, that part of the bag could be anything.

[lgriffiths1981]

I don't think this is all one way traffic i.e. Ernie calling the shots. It's very likely that Titleist did not want to renew his contract, after all he's not exactly been setting the golfing world on fire of late.

[MCDavis]

good for Ernie.. I hope it's true.

 

I dont see him in Hogan.. if Callaway is footing the bill it's going to be Callaway in his bag

 

I see a FT-5 and X-forged irons in his future... maybe the vokey's will stay for awhile... he's been having so many putting related issues lately, that part of the bag could be anything.

Not arguing with you, but couldn't it be a smart move for Cally to have Els play Hogan customs? It would potentially boost Hogan sales, and they wouldn't compete with Cally products if they went the custom route on the Hogans.

 

Or is that just a crazy scenario?

[stealthontour]

It wouldn't surprise me if he still had the Titleist 3wood in the bag to start with... the X fairway is an aquired taste.... Along with Vokey wedges and the ProV1x ball.. It might take a few weeks of play before putting the Cally ball in the bag, got to get comfortable with the clubs....

 

Don't think he'll have the Hogan's..... Definatley the X Forged, very similar to the TM 300 series he used to massive affect before going to Titleist.....

[AcesAZ]

good for Ernie.. I hope it's true.

 

I dont see him in Hogan.. if Callaway is footing the bill it's going to be Callaway in his bag

 

I see a FT-5 and X-forged irons in his future... maybe the vokey's will stay for awhile... he's been having so many putting related issues lately, that part of the bag could be anything.

Not arguing with you, but couldn't it be a smart move for Cally to have Els play Hogan customs? It would potentially boost Hogan sales, and they wouldn't compete with Cally products if they went the custom route on the Hogans.

 

Or is that just a crazy scenario?

 

I like that idea as well. Right now who is playing Hogan blades? The name needs a boost and EE could boost their sales tremendously in the blade market.

[dansrixon]

He's on my fantasy team...so I hope it doenst take him long to adjust:)

[TigerFrank]

more for sanity of the board. with 100 threads about Ernie its hard to keep track. it would be nice if things were consolidated in one place.

[davephin]

I wonder what the price is. He had a below market deal at Titleist, but then his star has been fading lately. Will be interesting to hear the terms.

[JKB]

ELS JOINS CALLAWAY

Tuesday, February 27: 09h00

 

By Barry Havenga

 

Ernie Els has signed a new equipment deal with Callaway Golf, ending his relationship with Titleist that began in 2003. The switch is believed to be effective immediately, as his profile has been removed from the Titleist website.

 

Els’ 5-year contract with Titleist was up for renewal at the end of 2007, but negotiations between the world No 6 and the Acushnet company evidently fell through, leaving Callaway the option of buying out the remaining year of his current contract with Titleist – which they did.

 

The move comes two months after the 37-year-old announced at the SA Airways Open in December that he was rededicating himself to becoming the world’s number one player. A final round 65 gave Els his fourth SA Open title at Humewood.

 

In his bag at the SAA Open at Humewood in December was a prototype Titleist 907 D2 driver and the new Titleist Pro V1x ball.

 

It’s not certain at this early stage whether Els as part of his new contract will have to discontinue using a Titleist golf ball, which he has used throughout his career, in favour of the Callaway HX Tour ball used by staff players such as Phil Mickelson and Charles Howell III.

 

One reason for Callaway’s interest might be to counter the move made by Henrik Stenson to Srixon at the end of 2006. Callaway need a marquee player in Europe and Els will provide this.

 

Els tees up in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket this week, and was reported to have used a Callaway Fusion driver during a practice round yesterday. He was also believed to have been seen recently at the Callaway testing facility in Surrey, near his home at Wentworth.

 

It is the third major equipment change in recent years for Els. He won two of his three majors, the 1997 US Open and 2002 Open, as a TaylorMade player. Since signing for Titleist in 2003 he has won five tournaments on the PGA Tour, but the last of those was the WGC-American Express Championship in 2004.

 

Els will join Mickelson and Howell as Callaway’s highest profile players. His coach, David Leadbetter, is also endorsed by Callaway.

 

Along with numerous new advertising campaigns and photo shoots for his new sponsors – requiring his time and effort – the Ernie Els Foundation will have to discontinue the use of their Titleist equipment.

 

www.golfdigest.co.za

[Redbird]

Makes ya wonder if it's the equipment (not likely) or is it that Titliest is a difficult company to deal with?

[Redbird]

It's very likely that Titleist did not want to renew his contract, after all he's not exactly been setting the golfing world on fire of late.

 

 

Which of the top ten players in the world play titliest equipment (clubs, not balls)? They had one, now they have none.

[PatScan]

It's very likely that Titleist did not want to renew his contract, after all he's not exactly been setting the golfing world on fire of late.

 

 

Which of the top ten players in the world play titliest equipment (clubs, not balls)? They had one, now they have none.

 

adam scott is in the top ten. he plays titleist.

 

i really hope ernie resurrects ben hogan as a brand name. it'd be fine if he wore the callaway hat & carried the bag, i'd just like to see some sweet hogan swords in that callaway bag.

 

the ball is going to be an interesting issue as well.