Masters Special: Which Major golf brand could be the next to fade into history? - National Club Golfer | National Club Golfer

published: Apr 9, 2026

Masters Special: Which Major golf brand could be the next to fade into history?

Paul Miller

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Fast forward to 2050 and will Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway and Ping still be the dominant forces in golf? History suggests it possibly might not be the case

Gary Player of South Africa on the driving range before the final round in the 42nd Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 1978 | Source Getty

Introduction

Rewind to 1978, the year Gary Player secured his third, and last, green jacket. Picture him seated on his golf bag before the final round. You ask, “It’s 2026, and the brand on your bag is no longer associated with top-tier players but has become more of a budget brand or known for kids’ package sets – do you see this happening?” What do you think his response would be?

Premium brands – 1970-1990s

Ram

The brand in question is , once favoured by legendary golfers such as Gary Player and Tom Watson. At NCG, we’ve always admired Ram for its value, and so today it’s primarily seen as a budget-friendly choice. For instance, you’ll find or , offering accessible options without compromising on value.

Maxfli

Another brand, if you were golfing in the 1990s, that would just slip off the tongue as one of the major brands. If you did not have their clubs you probably would have tried their golf balls. In 1995, the then defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal, had the Maxfli brand prominently showing on his bag.

DEFENDING CHAMPION JOSE-MARIA OLAZABAL OF SPAIN PLAYING AN IRON SHOT TO THE 18TH GREEN DURING THE FIRST PRACTICE ROUND AT THE 1995 US MASTERS GOLF | Source: Getty

Jose’s good friend Seve Ballesteros also used the Maxfli HT ball along with Maxfli Tad Moore putter for a few seasons – the Maxfli HT golf ball nearly winning the ball count at the Open in the early 1990s over Titleist!

Maxfli are still represented on the professional tours by players such as Ben Griffin and Lexi Thompson, both using a Maxfli ball, but this is a far cry from a defending Masters champion using a bag displaying the brands name.

Premium Brands – declining but not disappeared

Wilson

Then there are brands that are still seen as premium today but were much higher profile back in the 1980s and 90s.

Caddies for Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead during the Par 3 Tournament prior to the US Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, circa April 1989 | Source: Getty

The picture above might have been when the three greats were well passed their best but Wilson was visible and at the forefront when Bernhard Langer won his two green jackets. In 2026 none of the top ranked players use Wilson clubs, yet they are still producing outstanding drivers and irons. They have also just released some zero torque putters that are more reasonably price.

Unlike Ram and MacGregor, you might argue that Wilson have not gone from Premium to budget but are struggling more from an image problem and just need to get their products into the hands of club players in order for them to see and feel the quality. This is very much the case with the Wilson golf balls on offer. These represent fantastic value for the performance they deliver.

Mizuno

Mizuno took Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo to Masters victory. Unlike Wilson they have not disappeared from the PGA Tour but it is fair to say the days of a Masters champion caddie carrying a Mizuno bag seem to be behind the brand, for now.

Today on the PGA Tour Mizuno irons are in the hands of players like Keith Mitchell, Adam Schenk, Ben Griffin and Luke Donald.

Cobra

Greg Norman signed with Cobra in 1991 and subsequently won The Open in 1993 and had a dominant year in 1995 and held world number one spot 1995-1997. Though Cobra has not vanished from the PGA Tour only 4 players tee up a Cobra driver and use their irons – Gary Woodland, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler and Danny Willett. Similar to Wilson, they suffer somewhat due to the current dominance of Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade and Ping.

Maybe it was Greg Norman’s collapse in the 1996 Masters, when Nick Faldo over took him during a dramatic final round, that triggered their gradual decline amongst tour professionals?

Greg Norman Masters 1996 King Cobra bag | Source: Getty

The forgotten brands

If you walk in the clubhouse at Bingley St Ives golf club you will enter Billy’s Bar – named after the legendary caddie Billy Foster. He has been a life long member there and has fitted it out with a variety of treasured memorabilia. In prominent place is the Dunlop bag he carried whilst caddying for Seve Ballesteros.

Billy's Bar Bingley St Ives Golf Club | Source: Billy Foster — Billy’s Bar Bingley St Ives Golf Club | Source: Billy Foster

Dunlop was also visible at The Masters back in 1994, courtesy of brand positioning on items such as caps and visors.

SEVE BALLESTEROS OF SPAIN DISCUSSES HIS OPTIONS WITH CADDY BILLY FOSTER DURING THE SECOND ROUND AT THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL CLUB IN GEORGIA 1994 | Source: Getty

To be fair to Dunlop they have not totally disappeared from the professional ranks – Dunlop Sports now encompasses Srixon and Cleveland – brands that many of the top professionals have in their bags today, in terms of drivers, irons, wedges and golf balls.

Dunlop are not the only brand that has disappeared from the Augusta fairways. Remember Spalding, Hogan, Top-Flite, Precept, Slazenger – to mention a few!

David Frost wearing Hogan 1989, Tommy Armour III wearing Top-Flite 1990 and Greg Norman with Spalding bag 1886 | Source: Getty

Yesteryear – Apparel Brands

And we can’t forget golf apparel brands that were once giants of the fairways and have now either disappeared or taken a firm back seat to major current brands like Adidas and Nike.

Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam The Masters | Source: NCG

Who can every forget Nick Faldo in Pringle or Ian Woosnam in Sergio Tacchini? Both brands are still operating today but their days dominating the fairways are currently behind them.

Summary

It is quite amazing to see brands that once were trusted by the golfing elite are no longer so. This is not a criticism but just an observation of how things have changed.

It is also a message to the major brands to not rest on their laurels and think current situations will last forever. Fast forward to 2050 will TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway and Ping still be the dominant forces? It is hard to imagine this not being the case – but then again Gary Player might have thought the same about Ram back in 1978.