CRAIG STADLER AT THE MASTERS

Boise59 · April 27, 2006

Switched to Nike Irons!

Anyone know which model Craig is playing with? Saw him at the Toshiba and he was still playing with Armours.

Ultimate · April 27, 2006

I don't know much more than what I heard on a short on-the-course interview with him at the Legends. He did have new irons in the bag (Nikes, I presume) but at the Legends he went back to his old set (have to be the Armours). He was giving the usual "aw shucks" uninformative kinds of answers typical of whenever a player is asked about equipment that he is not being paid to play with.

I'd hate to try to make a living interviewing Stadler in any case...

CSR · April 28, 2006

It was ALL for the money. And a LARGE amount from what I hear.

Last year Nike bragged about the iron count at the Masters, but that was only because they paid the old guys w/out statue or endorsements to play the clubs. Nike knows how to market a product and money talks.

kmrev · April 28, 2006

Didn't he switch in last year's Masters as well? I seem to recall the article on how Nike got a lot of past champions to play their irons that week, so they could win the Darrell Survey count and capitalize on the marketing aspect of it. Sandy Lyle switched as well.

$$$$$$$ That's what it's all about!!

Boise59 · May 1, 2006

Yes, it's alll about showing him the money. Still, does anyone know which Nikes he was playing?

Ultimate · May 1, 2006

Honestly, I might do the same if I were Stadler. For him, the Masters is like a Monday Outing. It is a tournament that he has no realistic opportunity of winning. He plays (as I would if I were him) for the pure pleasure of associating with other past champions, to participate in the fun of a major championship, and enjoy the opportunity to play ANGC in tournament conditions. He may not play in too many more of them. If he can use the occasion to make some money while testing new clubs, so be it.

But it is pretty clear what his gamers are right now in his mind.

I think the guy does still want to compete and win, albeit on the Champions tour. If he was just playing with anything that Nike paid him to play, he'd still have some of their clubs in his bag. But he uses his gamers to win his own tour events.

nikeguy · May 19, 2006

Yes, it's alll about showing him the money. Still, does anyone know which Nikes he was playing?

Craig Stadler played the Pro Combo Tour Irons at the Masters...he can play whatever he wants considering his contract with Nike does not include Clubs!