Ernie to Callaway - The Reasons

[villa]

Gary Player/Thomas Bjorn/David Leadbetter

Got some great info last night. This comes straight from the gossip mongers on the European Tour.

Apparantly the reasons for Ernie's move are the name's listed. Although they were already friends, Ernie and Gary Player have become very close since he had his knee injury. Mr Player has been telling him him that this is his opportunity to push for the world number one spot and Callaway will help in every way they can to do it.

Thomas Bjorn is Ernie's best friend on tour. Between him and Leadbetter they've been constantly on at him about moving to Callaway.

The nail in the coffin. Some of the Titleist guys were bad mouthing Retief Goosen for ending his Titleist ball contract in front of Ernie. The story is that it didn't go down well and negotiations with Callaway started there.

Take this info as pure rumour if you like but it comes from people who do know Ernie.

[villa]

Very interesting info and quite plausible.

 

Still, I think *$$$* was the primary factor. Titleist offered less, EE wanted more, EE moves to Callaway.

 

Yes, I forgot to mention there was more money on the line as well. To be honest i'm not sure if that's of too much importance to EE with all his course architect work etc but it'd be difficult to turn down an extra 2-3 million or whatever it was.

[villa]

Also, it seems that there may be a trend to promote more of the up and coming guys (talented, but younger and unproven ... thus *cheaper*), which is why Cleveland trimmed down its staff (e.g., David Toms) and Titleist didn't really flinch at losing Els.

 

Then there's that whole rumor about Titleist having been ticked off at Els for not fully disclosing the cause for his knee injury last year.

 

I didn't hear anything about him not disclosing the cause for his knee injury but it could've been a factor.

 

Titleist have always gone after young talent but i'm not sure it'd be a cost thing. Altough they're one of the biggest players in the industry they market themselves very differently to Callaway and Taylor Made etc so who knows?

 

I've been intrigued about the whole Cleveland situation though. Someone told me that Raphael Jaquelin (European Tour player- been with Cleveland for 10 years) was in tears when he was told they were cancelling his contract.

[Springbok]

Got some great info last night. This comes straight from the gossip mongers on the European Tour.

 

Apparantly the reasons for Ernie's move are the name's listed. Although they were already friends, Ernie and Gary Player have become very close since he had his knee injury. Mr Player has been telling him him that this is his opportunity to push for the world number one spot and Callaway will help in every way they can to do it.

 

Thomas Bjorn is Ernie's best friend on tour. Between him and Leadbetter they've been constantly on at him about moving to Callaway.

 

The nail in the coffin. Some of the Titleist guys were bad mouthing Retief Goosen for ending his Titleist ball contract in front of Ernie. The story is that it didn't go down well and negotiations with Callaway started there.

 

Take this info as pure rumour if you like but it comes from people who do know Ernie.

 

 

The Retief part of the story is not true. The rumor of Ernie leaving was already circulating before Titleist new about Retief wanting to change balls. I know that for a fact.

[villa]

Yeah mate, I did hear that but as far as I know (and again, take this as rumour if you like) that was the nail in the coffin.

 

I first heard the rumour about his move when he used that Odyssey putter last year which I agree was before Retief switched.

[KTgolf1]

Why would anyone bad mouth another player about which ball he plays? Why would he care?

 

As for clubs available, there is no way that Callaway has anything superior to what is available at Titleist. Everything is made to measure for each golfer. Whether he likes the current ball or not is another matter, but i'm sure he could find whatever ball characteristics he wanted.

 

Personally, I believe it to be down to money. Ernie's game hasn't been what it once was for a couple of years, and when negotiations took place Titleist must have offered less than Ernie felt he was due. Ernie still believes he is a top name (and he's probably right), but titleist have decided to pass on his terms, probably believeing that his best years are behind him. Enter Callaway.

[villa]

Why would anyone bad mouth another player about which ball he plays? Why would he care?

 

As for clubs available, there is no way that Callaway has anything superior to what is available at Titleist. Everything is made to measure for each golfer. Whether he likes the current ball or not is another matter, but i'm sure he could find whatever ball characteristics he wanted.

 

Personally, I believe it to be down to money. Ernie's game hasn't been what it once was for a couple of years, and when negotiations took place Titleist must have offered less than Ernie felt he was due. Ernie still believes he is a top name (and he's probably right), but titleist have decided to pass on his terms, probably believeing that his best years are behind him. Enter Callaway.

 

Again, treat it as pure speculation if you like but Ernie and Retief are close friends and apparantly Ernie got annoyed when the Titleist guys (don't know if they were tour van guys or directors) were bad mouthing Retief for leaving his Titleist ball and glove contract.

 

There was no mention of equipment being better or worse. I think what Gary Player and the rest meant was Callaway will go out of there way to help EE to get where he wants to be.