Which tour players are using new gear in 2018?
By James Savage
It’s golf’s version of the transfer window in the early parts of the year as numerous tour players sign deals with golf equipment brands for the season ahead.
We’ve had a few high profile moves and some which may have slipped under the radar.
Find out who has switched from TaylorMade to Callaway (you’ll never guess), who has signed a deal with Ping and who has gone back to the clothing brand they landed their second win with six years ago…
1. Tour transfer window 2018: Sergio Garcia
Let’s get this one out of the way.
I’m sure you have followed this story closely over the past few months. Garcia was one of TaylorMade Adidas Golf’s prize assets but then TaylorMade was sold by Adidas.
And a deal to keep the Masters playing TaylorMade clubs wasn’t reached.
Within a couple of weeks he was playing a full bag of Callaway gear including the Rogue Sub Zero driver, Apex MB irons, Mack Daddy 4 wedges, Toulon design putter and Chrome Soft X ball.
He won the Singapore Open – his first event as an official Callaway staff player.
Review: Callaway Rogue driver
Sergio’s Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedges are here – and we’ve tested them
Review: Callaway Apex MB irons
2. Tour transfer window 2018: Brian Harman
Left-handed Harman was also a TaylorMade guy but has now signed a full club, ball and bag deal with Titleist. He’ll also wear FootJoy shoes.
It seems TaylorMade have made a decision to focus on their ‘big six’ of Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and some guy called Tiger Woods?
So we’ve seen a fair few former staff players sign deals with other brands at the start of 2018.
Harman has been playing the 917 D2 driver and 917 fairways, 718 CB irons and the brand new SM7 Vokey wedges. He now plays the Titleist Pro V1 ball.
Review: FootJoy Tour-S golf shoes
Review: Titleist Vokey SM7 wedges
Equipment: Titleist 917 driver review
3. Tour transfer window: Rafa Cabrera Bello
Rafa-Cabrera Bello will be FootJoy’s poster boy for 2018 after signing a deal to wear their clothing once again.
The Spaniard has been wearing Oakley gear for the past couple of years but is now back with the brand which he wore when bagging his second European Tour win in 2012.
More information can be found on the FootJoy website.
[skylab_video id=”136241″]FootJoy Tour-S review YT[/skylab_video]
4. Tour transfer window: Eddie Pepperell
Mizuno have been one of the most popular brands for players who aren’t tied down to a deal.
Their JPX900 Tour irons have been in high demand with players such as Brooks Koepka, Paul Casey and Jason Dufner (see below).
And you can add England’s Eddie Pepperell to that list who will be playing Mizuno irons and wedges along with a Mizuno tour bag.
More information can be found on the Mizuno website.
5. Tour transfer window: Xander Schauffele
Arguably the second biggest signing by Callaway. And a massive coup for Adidas too.
Schauffele’s stock rocketed at the back end of 2017 where he won the Tour Championship before being named PGA Tour rookie of the year.
He’s actually still using the 2017 TaylorMade M2 driver but has Callaway Rogue fairways and Mack Daddy 4 wedges at the moment.
We’re sure it’s only a matter of time before he has a full bag of Callaway clubs.
More information can be found on the Callaway website.
6. Tour transfer window: Tony Finau
Big hitter Tony Finau is now an official Ping staff player.
He had already been using their gear after Nike left the hardware game but now joins the likes of Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Andy Sullivan and Tyrrell Hatton as part of the Ping family.
Finau will play the brand new G400 Max driver which he used to lead the field for driving distance at the Farmers Insurance Open.
As part of a multi-year agreement, Finau will carry a Ping staff bag and play a minimum of 11 Ping clubs.
More information can be found on the Ping website.
7. Tour transfer window: Jason Dufner
Dufner is now a free agent when it comes to his clubs but he will continue to play the Titleist Pro V1 ball.
We’ve seen him gaming the new TaylorMade M4 driver and Mizuno JPX900 Tour irons – a popular choice for anyone not tied down to a club deal.
[skylab_video id=”134666″]TaylorMade M4 driver YT[/skylab_video]
8. Tour transfer window: Ernie Els
The Big Easy has been announced as a Global Ambassador for the XXIO brand – part of the same compaany as Srixon and Cleveland.
Els has been playing Srixon irons and Cleveland wedges for a while now – something which won’t change.
He will be using a XXIO tour bag but we are unsure which clubs he will put in play.
XXIO are the biggest brand in Japan and their gear is aimed as those with slower swing speeds.
Could be the perfect match for the South African’s legendary smooth swing.
More information can be found on the XXIO website.
9. Tour transfer window: Tyrrell Hatton
The Englishman is a Ping staffer when it comes to his clubs but will now be joining Garcia, Schauffele, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm in wearing Adidas clothing and shoes.
More information can be found on the Adidas website.
10. Tour transfer window: Si Woo Kim
One which many of you may have missed.
You have also missed the fact that Kim won The Players last year. A real talent and hot prospect who Callaway will be hoping can get in the mix at the majors in 2018.
Like Garcia, he’ll be playing the Callaway Rogue Sub Zero driver and Apex MB irons.
More information can be found on the Callaway website.
[skylab_video id=”135759″]Callaway Rogue Driver Review – Mid-handicap testing[/skylab_video]
James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
