With the start of 2017, we'll learn which pro golfers are switching equipment companies for the new year.
Jason Day is staying with TaylorMade for his equipment needs, but he has signed with Nike Golf for apparel, headwear and footwear as part of a multi-year deal.
Rory McIlroy hasn't signed a new equipment endorsement deal, but the four-time major winner is playing a mix of Callaway Golf and Titleist equipment to start 2017. In his bag, McIlroy will have the Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic SubZero driver, Apex MB irons and an Odyssey prototype putter. He'll play Titleist's Pro V1x ball, as part of a contract, and Vokey by Titleist wedges.
Bubba Watson has signed on to play Volvik golf balls, deciding, per Golf Digest, that the changes in the Pro V1x and the Volvik ball he'll play are not substantial enough to dissuade him from a change. He hopes to play the ball in pink and other colors, though Volvik doesn't currently make the ball he chose in pink.
Daniel Berger has signed a new equipment deal, switching from TaylorMade Golf to Callaway Golf, while moving to Lacoste for apparel. For the FedEx St. Jude Classic winner, this marks the first time he has played clubs other than TaylorMade since junior golf. Patrick Rodgers has also joined the Callaway Golf staff.
Harris English is now a Nike staffer for apparel, and he's switched from Callaway to Ping for equipment. Alex Noren, Thomas Pieters, Alexander Levy and Kristoffer Broberg all signed with Nike for apparel as well.
TaylorMade Golf has signed six players to fairway wood deals, including Smylie Kaufman, Paul Casey, Seung-Yul Noh, Nick Watney, Kyle Stanley and Jon Curran.
Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) made a big splash, too, in the women's game, signing world No. 1 Lydia Ko to their staff. Ko is one of four LPGA players joining PXG for 2017, including U.S. Women's Open champion Brittany Lang, Christina Kim and Ryann O'Toole. These players join the likes of Cristie Kerr, Alison Lee and Gerina Piller on the PXG staff.
Srixon/Cleveland Golf has re-signed a number of staffers, including J.B. Holmes, Soren Kjeldsen, Rod Pampling, Willy Wilcox (his request on the new name), Minjee Lee and Shane Lowry. The company has signed PGA Tour rookie J.J. Spaun, as well Dan McCarthy, who won the PGA Tour Canada money list by torching that tour last year.
Titleist has signed a number of players to deals of different types. Sean O’Hair, Derek Fathauer and Jason Kokrak will use Titleist clubs, balls and bags, as well wear FootJoy shoes in a full-line deal.
Russell Henley, a Nike Golf staffer, will use Titleist clubs, balls and have a Titleist staff bag but will continue with his Nike apparel deal.
Nick Watney, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace will be using Titleist balls and FootJoy shoes and gloves. Sean O'Hair has signed a full endorsement deal with Titleist, leaving TaylorMade Golf.
