Equipment contract changes for PGA Tour Pros 2017/18

[Night train]

Maybe should be a new thread, but does anyone make decisions in equipment purchases because of who is under contract to play that brand? I could care less and make decisions on what actually makes the most sense with my swing, as well as look at address (confidence).

 

The manufacturers pay the pro's for marketing assuming you will buy, do you?

 

 

 

 

Tries to remember even touching a Ram club much less buying one....

 

 

 

 

I'm going to have to go "NO" to this question.

 

Nice ad pull, lol. My point exactly.

 

He used a Zebra putter at some stage early on.

 

Tom played Ram forged irons the entire time he was on staff with them.......they were recognized as excellent forgings and played by many good players.

[Roadking2003]

Maybe should be a new thread, but does anyone make decisions in equipment purchases because of who is under contract to play that brand?

 

No. Never have.

[RobNY22]

I know Mizuno doesn’t pay to play, but it would be a damn shame if they didn’t at least try and get Hideki Matsuyama on board. He’s a rock star in Japan... it only makes sense for Mizuno to have him be the face of their brand.

[Scooterboy59]

Justin Thomas's deal with Titleist is up...I could see some big money being thrown at him

 

Having just won 10 large in the Fed Ex cup, I don't see him changing to anything other that what has been working for him. Titleist looks good in his bag, traditional.

I don't know many people that turn down money. They always want more. If it is up,he is in position to make a couple dollars more, I think we may see him in a different bag next year.

[Outlier]

Maybe should be a new thread, but does anyone make decisions in equipment purchases because of who is under contract to play that brand? I could care less and make decisions on what actually makes the most sense with my swing, as well as look at address (confidence).

 

The manufacturers pay the pro's for marketing assuming you will buy, do you?

Remember when Nike made golf clubs? Those were great days, Tiger, Rory, Michelle, man, those clubs flew off the shelves.

 

Ha!...

 

probably one of the greatest fails of all time..

 

i like their apparel and accessories though..

 

I LOVED their wedges!

[hardcaliber]

Maybe should be a new thread, but does anyone make decisions in equipment purchases because of who is under contract to play that brand? I could care less and make decisions on what actually makes the most sense with my swing, as well as look at address (confidence).

 

The manufacturers pay the pro's for marketing assuming you will buy, do you?

 

I think there are a lot more people than you think, that will purchase a club based on what pro plays it. Not on this site for sure, because all of us on here are concerned with getting fitted and have our specs and such. But the crowd that buys clubs off the shelf, probably a older demographic, will do so because they see DJ crushing his TM driver. I had a guy in my Myrtle Beach group show me his new driver a few years ago and was excited because he had gotten "Tiger's driver." You and I both know that the club he bought was not even in the same ball park as what Tiger was playing at the time. I would say that some of the off-the-rack buyers will consider what the pros are playing when making a purchase. You just won't find many of those guys on these forum pages.

 

I dunno, I see a heck of a lot of guys with RORS proto nike putters on the BST. Seems like a run of the mill Anser style putter to me, if not for the fact that it's what Rory plays. I could probably name a few more examples, but my point is I think that we are more susceptible than we like to think.

[QMany]

Jonathan Wall

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Looks like Chris Kirk is no longer on staff with PXG. Travis Mathew bag and playing mixed setup of Titleist, TaylorMade, Mizuno and Ping.

Will Gray‏Verified account @WillGrayGC 4m4 minutes ago

 

 

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Will Gray Retweeted Jonathan Wall

 

Was 49th in OWGR when he signed with PXG in Jan 2016. Currently 152nd.

[Golfingfanatic]

Tommy Fleetwood using a Titleist driver at the dunhill links

[Dave230]

Generally speaking, Titleist's strategy is to have quantity of players on lower contracts, rather than a few big-name players. So that means I wouldn't be surprised if Justin Thomas left Titleist soon in some capacity. Most of Spieth's money is coming from Under Armour, so he's happy to use Titleist equipment.

 

If Thomas really likes the equipment too then a big apparel deal might be on the way. I wonder how much he gets from Ralph Lauren. Thomas is a very marketable guy, he can make a lot of money in endorsements in the next few years if he wants to.

[mikeweirfan]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

[Jordan Speeth]

Chris Kirk - no longer with PXG?

1) no longer on PXG pro list

2) check out "Monday 2017 Safeway Open" pics...."Pt 2" ....about 10% down from the top of the page.... bag has Mizuno irons & Vokey Wedges....and it doesn't look like a PXG staff bag either

 

It is true, what you say. He was bagging M1 Driver and fairway, MP 18 MMC 3 iron, MP 18 MB 4-PW, Vokey SM6 Wedges, all in a Travis Matthew Bag. There were quite a few of those out there too.

 

 

[lc1342]

I’ve asked this on a different post but how do we know who is actually a free agent?

[lc1342]

Hatton has an M1 or M2 fairway at Alfred Dunhill. Didn’t think you could do that on a Ping contract.

 

Hatton has an M1 or M2 fairway at Alfred Dunhill. Didn’t think you could do that on a Ping contract.

[Tilikum]

I read somewhere that Thomas is a relatively low spin player. Would that be a reason for using a titleist driver?

[J13]

I find it amusing that people say "i can't see speith or JT leaving Titleist" lmao. The same was said for every big name player that left Titleist lol. Speith has said he will most likely stick with Titleist but tha'ts because he got a big payout from UA. JT will be going bye bye as soon as he can.

Ralph pays pretty well and so does winning the Fedex Cup.

 

Fed Ex Cup was great to win of course but Ralph doesn't pay NIke/UA money. JT will be leaving Titleist.

[Ed Settle]

Generally speaking, Titleist's strategy is to have quantity of players on lower contracts, rather than a few big-name players. So that means I wouldn't be surprised if Justin Thomas left Titleist soon in some capacity. Most of Spieth's money is coming from Under Armour, so he's happy to use Titleist equipment.

 

If Thomas really likes the equipment too then a big apparel deal might be on the way. I wonder how much he gets from Ralph Lauren. Thomas is a very marketable guy, he can make a lot of money in endorsements in the next few years if he wants to.

 

And Spieth, to a lesser degree than under armor, makes money from AT&T and Coca-Cola. I could see JT picking up outside golf sponsorships too

[Santiago Golf]

I find it amusing that people say "i can't see speith or JT leaving Titleist" lmao. The same was said for every big name player that left Titleist lol. Speith has said he will most likely stick with Titleist but tha'ts because he got a big payout from UA. JT will be going bye bye as soon as he can.

Ralph pays pretty well and so does winning the Fedex Cup.

 

Fed Ex Cup was great to win of course but Ralph doesn't pay NIke/UA money. JT will be leaving Titleist.

No he isnt. I see him picking up a BMW sponsorship or another high end non golf sponsor

[KennyP]

Hatton has an M1 or M2 fairway at Alfred Dunhill. Didn’t think you could do that on a Ping contract.

 

 

I think Ping have relaxed their contracts somewhat. They used to be 13 club deals and the driver and putter had to be Ping. I believe it's now 11. (Hatton also has a Vokey wedge BTW).

 

[jll62]

As expected, Sergio and TaylorMade have officially parted ways.

[MidwestGolfBum]

I read somewhere that Thomas is a relatively low spin player. Would that be a reason for using a titleist driver?

 

Both his grandfather and father were both on staff with Titleist as PGA Pros so it was more of a natural progression for him to move into the "brand ambassador" role when he turned professional. Until this season, he was "just another young gun" to most so with this year he will be able to leverage that notoriety to get some larger contracts. I have to suspect that he will stay with Titleist and get the bigger money from his play and off course deals in the same way that JS has.

[Lesmond]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

Stenson?

[new2g0lf]

45]

Jonathan Wall

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Looks like Chris Kirk is no longer on staff with PXG. Travis Mathew bag and playing mixed setup of Titleist, TaylorMade, Mizuno and Ping.

 

 

 

Will Gray‏Verified account @WillGrayGC 4m4 minutes ago

 

 

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Will Gray Retweeted Jonathan Wall

 

Was 49th in OWGR when he signed with PXG in Jan 2016. Currently 152nd.

 

PXG and Kirk mutually agreed to part ways. A bit of chicken and egg here as a reference was made to his drop in the OWGR last year. I'm sure some would be happy to blame the PXG clubs in his bag as the cause while others will point the finger at Kirk.

 

I would blame both, PXG makes good irons but they are likely different than Kirk is used to playing and their woods imo are lacking compared to the other manufacturers.

[ronster]

Tommy Fleetwood using a Titleist driver at the dunhill links

 

Yup looks like a 917 driver. Still playing Nike woods and irons.

[Optimus-Par]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

Stenson?

 

 

They are probably working on shafting him up a S9-1 fairway.

[Llortamaisey]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

Stenson?

 

 

They are probably working on shafting him up a S9-1 fairway.

 

Hey now, that S9-1 pro 15* was a great stick.

[The General]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

very interesting.Any thought to who it may be?

[the bishop]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

very interesting.Any thought to who it may be?

Based on the current world rankings my guess would be Henrik or Hideki but its just a guess and I have no idea what their current equipment contract status is.

[pappaf2]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

very interesting.Any thought to who it may be?

Based on the current world rankings my guess would be Henrik or Hideki but its just a guess and I have no idea what their current equipment contract status is.

 

Hideki's contract with Srixon ends this year.

It would be a big score for cobra to land Hideki. I don't know what their presence in Asia is like right now but I imagine it would explode if they pick him up.

[lc1342]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

Koepka? I know he's Nike apparel though.

 

Stenson, no idea on his contract.

 

Hideki, last I heard had a G400 in the bag.

 

Thomas, maybe?

[new2g0lf]

Heard a rumour from someone at Cobra this week that they have a men's top 10 player in the world coming on staff for 2018.

 

very interesting.Any thought to who it may be?

Based on the current world rankings my guess would be Henrik or Hideki but its just a guess and I have no idea what their current equipment contract status is.

 

I can't see Hideki going to Cobra, Srixon is part of Dunlop and XXIO so I would think he'd want to play for a company with roots in Japan. Koepka or Day would make the most sense in terms of demographics.