Top-25 OWGR by OEM

[stribs]

Does this come by surprise to anyone?

 

World Rankings (as of March 1, 2013) by primary OEM sponsor

 

1. Nike

2. Nike

3. Mizuno

4. Bridgestone

5. Ping

6. TaylorMade

7. Titleist

8. Bridgestone

9. Ping

10. Cobra

11. Ping

12. Callaway

13. Titleist

14. Nike

15. Titleist

16. Titleist

17. TaylorMade

18. Srixon/Cleveland

19. Srixon/Cleveland

20. TaylorMade

21. Ping

22. TaylorMade

23. Nike

24. Callaway

25. TaylorMade

 

I know the sample size isn’t ideal, so take it for what it’s worth, but based on the top-25 players in the world:

 

4 play Nike

2 play Srixon/Cleveland

1 plays Mizuno

2 play Callaway

5 play TaylorMade

4 play Titleist

4 play Ping

1 play Cobra

2 play Bridgestone

 

Is everyone now going to jump on the Nike bandwagon?

[benjammin172]

I'm more surprised that only one pro in the top 25 is gaming Mizuno. Their irons are obviously great, but their woods are IMO some of the most underrated clubs around

[Hattori Hanzo]

[quote name='benjammin172' timestamp='1363976215' post='6665477']
I'm more surprised that only one pro in the top 25 is gaming Mizuno. Their irons are obviously great, but their woods are IMO some of the most underrated clubs around
[/quote]

If there were no such things as OEM endorsement contracts, I think you'd see a ton of Mizuno irons out on Tour, but for now, they simply aren't shelling out the big bucks and going after more high-profile guys.

[swingo]

I don't get the mizuno thing either, do they just refuse to pay guys? I know they got Luke - so maybe they're just cool with him being the face of the brand. Mizuno is obviously a wonderful iron and extremely popular among non pros.

[markheardjr]

Mizuno throws all their money at the JPGA where the can really market their higher priced equipment to the JDM.

[JPNC1977]

I don't think anyone should read too much into this. It's interesting, but at the end of the day what is the net difference. Every single one of the companies on that list make great products. I personally game Nike right now, but I'm considering a set of Callaway X Forged for my new irons. I can only speak for myself, but who won on tour last week or the week before makes little difference in my buying habits.

Thanks to Stribs for putting this together.

[Millhill88]

Mizuno also has the #1 Player in the world on the LPGA, as a staff member.

I know that is outside the relm of this thread, but I thought I would add it anyways.

[stribs]

I can't take credit for this. This post was a snip-it from a previous written article found [url="http://bit.ly/105whno"]here[/url].

[Josh L.]

 

Their list appears to be a little off.

[MileHighClub]

TMAG leading the pack with five! Doesn't even take into account all the guys who play a TMAG driver or FW but are listed under another OEM.

[schwanman]

Nor does it take into account that Rory and Nick Watney got to their positions by playing Titleist clubs.

[MileHighClub]

[quote name='schwanman' timestamp='1363987403' post='6666939']
Nor does it take into account that Rory and Nick Watney got to their positions by playing Titleist clubs.
[/quote]

Or the fact that most of these guys use Titleist golf balls. Many of them use Titleist putters and wedges too.

[jimpsycho]

I think the better number would be to see what % of the total staffers are in the top 25.

For instance, TMAG from what I see on TV has the most players on tour, so that means a smaller ratio of their players in the top 25. Whereas Nike has a smaller amount of players, but more are ranked in the top 25. That number to me is more telling.

With that said, every manufacturer is pretty equal in the sense that they all make great equipment. Some just sponsor more players than others.

[Jamboy72]

[quote name='JPNC1977' timestamp='1363977550' post='6665695']
I don't think anyone should read too much into this. It's interesting, but at the end of the day what is the net difference. Every single one of the companies on that list make great products. I personally game Nike right now, but I'm considering a set of Callaway X Forged for my new irons. I can only speak for myself, but who won on tour last week or the week before makes little difference in my buying habits.

Thanks to Stribs for putting this together.
[/quote]

I don't think Stribs put it together...I think he snagged it from my article on the homepage

[Jamboy72]

 

Their list appears to be a little off.

 

What date are these rankings from??

[smiley9929]

One thing I believe is that there is very little real correlation between 'brands' and 'player rankings'.

Tiger had Titleist copy his Mizuno blades and then Nike more or less did the same thing.

What's the real correlation here between Tiger's play and his equipment?

You can probably go back in history with many of the top 25 players and see that they've played different brands at different times and the key is for them to actually like what they play, for whatever reason, feel, sound, looks, weight, ball flight, spin, and on and on.

[smiley9929]

[quote name='Hattori Hanzo' timestamp='1363976385' post='6665519']
[quote name='benjammin172' timestamp='1363976215' post='6665477']
I'm more surprised that only one pro in the top 25 is gaming Mizuno. Their irons are obviously great, but their woods are IMO some of the most underrated clubs around
[/quote]

If there were no such things as OEM endorsement contracts, I think you'd see a ton of Mizuno irons out on Tour, but for now, they simply aren't shelling out the big bucks and going after more high-profile guys.
[/quote]

Exactly. Ask David Frost how is Mizuno blades are working for him, as well as some of the other players that are winning with them around the globe.

[Llortamaisey]

I would like to see this list based on the golf ball. It's the only the piece of equipment you play every shot with (except penalty shots I guess). There's plenty of guys who have one name on the hat but play different equipment in the bag.

[sdreher]

I don't think brand matters too much with these guys. Get them their preferred numbers, then get them clubs that suit those numbers....then stamp a brand on it. Taylormade spends the most money on the PGA and Euro PGA. Mizuno is great, but they don't throw as much money arround on the North American Tours.

[WRXClarky]

[quote name='Hattori Hanzo' timestamp='1363976385' post='6665519']
[quote name='benjammin172' timestamp='1363976215' post='6665477']
I'm more surprised that only one pro in the top 25 is gaming Mizuno. Their irons are obviously great, but their woods are IMO some of the most underrated clubs around
[/quote]

If there were no such things as OEM endorsement contracts, I think you'd see a ton of Mizuno irons out on Tour, but for now, they simply aren't shelling out the big bucks and going after more high-profile guys.
[/quote]
Earl Woods once said that he wished Mizuno would pay so Tiger could play their irons. The analyst then went on to say that he believed that 80 percent of pros would play Mizuno irons if the age of "paid to play" didn't exist.

[Jamboy72]

[quote name='Llortamaisey' timestamp='1363996412' post='6668029']
I would like to see this list based on the golf ball. It's the only the piece of equipment you play every shot with (except penalty shots I guess). There's plenty of guys who have one name on the hat but play different equipment in the bag.
[/quote]

Titleist has approx. 50% of the ball market world wide...and more than that on the PGA and Euro tours...I'm not sure this is because Titleist is better than what other OEMs can offer...but more so because of how much $$$$ the ball is worth to Titleist...that is their money maker and they'll do literally anything they need to in order to keep their market share...that, and they make a really, really awesome product!

[Titleist_ho]

[quote name='MileHighClub' timestamp='1363987609' post='6666963']
[quote name='schwanman' timestamp='1363987403' post='6666939']
Nor does it take into account that Rory and Nick Watney got to their positions by playing Titleist clubs.
[/quote]

Or the fact that most of these guys use Titleist golf balls. Many of them use Titleist putters and wedges too.
[/quote]

Very good observations. Since OWGR #1 moved to Nike, his performance has been much less than expected. But i guess that it doesn't matter, $$$$ talks

[ProjectX_Mizuno]

[quote name='jimpsycho' timestamp='1363988954' post='6667131']
I think the better number would be to see what % of the total staffers are in the top 25.

For instance, TMAG from what I see on TV has the most players on tour, so that means a smaller ratio of their players in the top 25. Whereas Nike has a smaller amount of players, but more are ranked in the top 25. That number to me is more telling.

With that said, every manufacturer is pretty equal in the sense that they all make great equipment. Some just sponsor more players than others.
[/quote]

+1 I would like to see that data laid out this way as well. If Mizuno only has 2 sponsored PGA tour players and one of them is in the top 25 well then that is a pretty dang good hit rate!

[sneakyshort2]

[quote name='ProjectX_Mizuno' timestamp='1364009558' post='6669423']
[quote name='jimpsycho' timestamp='1363988954' post='6667131']
I think the better number would be to see what % of the total staffers are in the top 25.

For instance, TMAG from what I see on TV has the most players on tour, so that means a smaller ratio of their players in the top 25. Whereas Nike has a smaller amount of players, but more are ranked in the top 25. That number to me is more telling.

With that said, every manufacturer is pretty equal in the sense that they all make great equipment. Some just sponsor more players than others.
[/quote]

+1 I would like to see that data laid out this way as well. If Mizuno only has 2 sponsored PGA tour players and one of them is in the top 25 well then that is a pretty dang good hit rate!
[/quote]
Actually Mizuno has three players! Byrd has been out with an injury and will start his season soon. Also the #25 player got there playing a set of MP 69s without being paid.

[youngwaldo]

I will be down at the Mizuno plant on Masters Week and I will have to ask the questions why they dont sponsor more PGA players.
If you have any other questions let me know.

Wk

[hef63303]

IMO, all this proves is that if you are really good, it does not matter who's clubs you use.