How Long Until Spieth Leaves Titleist? (Merged)

[R Hagan]

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1436752758' post='11936842'][quote name='BMC' timestamp='1436746434' post='11936106']
Maybe he should be sponsored by ebay. Isn't that where smart people by their equipment?

Those Nike, Callaway, Titelist, etc...bags don't influence me a bit on my purchases.

Why would fans even care about who sponsors him?
[/quote]

Consider yourself the minority. Do you have kids or were you ever one? Sports fans are very easily swayed to buy products with their knowledge and without it.

Your favorite basketball player is Lebron you're gonna lean towards Nike shoes. You're favorite NASCAR driver has Tide on his car, you're more likely to wash clothes with Tide. You're a Tiger fan you're gonna lean towards Nike Golf. Basic basic stuff. Product conditioning, market sway, etc[/quote]


Dead on. Especially the NASCAR part, I love Wonderbread.

[bruinsPATSirish]

[quote name='R Hagan' timestamp='1436755283' post='11937094']
[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1436752758' post='11936842'][quote name='BMC' timestamp='1436746434' post='11936106']
Maybe he should be sponsored by ebay. Isn't that where smart people by their equipment?

Those Nike, Callaway, Titelist, etc...bags don't influence me a bit on my purchases.

Why would fans even care about who sponsors him?
[/quote]

Consider yourself the minority. Do you have kids or were you ever one? Sports fans are very easily swayed to buy products with their knowledge and without it.

Your favorite basketball player is Lebron you're gonna lean towards Nike shoes. You're favorite NASCAR driver has Tide on his car, you're more likely to wash clothes with Tide. You're a Tiger fan you're gonna lean towards Nike Golf. Basic basic stuff. Product conditioning, market sway, etc[/quote]


Dead on. Especially the NASCAR part, I love Wonderbread.
[/quote]

If you ain't first you're last!

[BMC]

[quote name='bruinsPATSirish' timestamp='1436752758' post='11936842']
[quote name='BMC' timestamp='1436746434' post='11936106']
Maybe he should be sponsored by ebay. Isn't that where smart people by their equipment?

Those Nike, Callaway, Titelist, etc...bags don't influence me a bit on my purchases.

Why would fans even care about who sponsors him?
[/quote]

Consider yourself the minority. Do you have kids or were you ever one? Sports fans are very easily swayed to buy products with their knowledge and without it.

Your favorite basketball player is Lebron you're gonna lean towards Nike shoes. You're favorite NASCAR driver has Tide on his car, you're more likely to wash clothes with Tide. You're a Tiger fan you're gonna lean towards Nike Golf. Basic basic stuff. Product conditioning, market sway, etc
[/quote]

I hear ya, and agree. But I was speaking from a GolfWRX perspective. Many regulars on the board are buying used and/or demoing clubs that work for them, not necessarily the ones that won on Sunday.

[TheMoneyShot]

[quote name='dan360' timestamp='1436755196' post='11937082']
That Under Armour deal looks pretty cush. They fly him everywhere on their plane.

No NetJets, no LLC hassles, just call the pilot and say hey....its Jordan, I wanna go to X and abra cadabra it happens.

Not so bad really.
[/quote]

I did not know that. What a sweet deal that is!

[mosesgolf]

I just don't see Jordan ever leaving Titleist. He's going to make WAY more $ off the course rather than on. And at this point Jordan imo is chasing history rather than money. The money is going to follow just how much more can Callaway or TM offer? Not much and he's been on a such a ride with Titleist. Not happening.

[Soloman1]

[quote name='knockdstiff' timestamp='1436741188' post='11935606']
I like him playing Titleist but....I don't think it can last if he keeps it up with this whole 'winning everything' trend.
[/quote]

Why would anyone care or "like" what equipment he plays? I just don't get it.

[Potatohead]

[quote name='Soloman1' timestamp='1436763701' post='11937580']
[quote name='knockdstiff' timestamp='1436741188' post='11935606']
I like him playing Titleist but....I don't think it can last if he keeps it up with this whole 'winning everything' trend.
[/quote]

Why would anyone care or "like" what equipment he plays? I just don't get it.
[/quote]

Someone always says this but if you don't think people are influenced by the equipment their favourite pro uses, you are kidding yourself.

[rafal]

[quote name='mosesgolf' timestamp='1436761936' post='11937512']
I just don't see Jordan ever leaving Titleist. He's going to make WAY more $ off the course rather than on. And at this point Jordan imo is chasing history rather than money. The money is going to follow just how much more can Callaway or TM offer? Not much and he's been on a such a ride with Titleist. Not happening.
[/quote]

In a way his Titleists are his loss leaders, he makes less playing them but gets the wins that get him real money. In a way he's the greatest endorser of Titleist out there.

[TheInfidel]

*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.

[pinhigh27]

[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?

[John L.]

[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436789298' post='11938184']
[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?
[/quote]

Dunno about that pards! To many golfers,...........[u] aesthetics and feel are a very important part of the game[/u].

[NevinW]

[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436789298' post='11938184']
[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?
[/quote]

That idea is said around here a lot, but history would argue otherwise. Many pros have struggled after switching clubs and brands.

[pinhigh27]

[quote name='NevinW' timestamp='1436792189' post='11938384']
[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436789298' post='11938184']
[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?
[/quote]

That idea is said around here a lot, but history would argue otherwise. Many pros have struggled after switching clubs and brands.
[/quote]

no. that's correlation, not causation.

you realize the difference between being a solid player on tour and not keeping your card can be like 2 shots/rd on average? ie a player can just naturally have a good or bad year incredibly easily due to how competitive it is and how small the margins are between players.

pros are human too. sometimes they play bad, even for extended stretches of time, with absolutely nothing to do with equipment. you think those AP2s are magic for the 100s of mini tour guys that play them and can't make more than 5k a year playing golf?

[pinhigh27]

[quote name='Marand' timestamp='1436752227' post='11936772']
[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436751889' post='11936726']
[quote name='Marand' timestamp='1436751665' post='11936690']
[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436751312' post='11936628']
[quote name='moose557' timestamp='1436750967' post='11936582']
The only companies I see throwing extreme Rory type money at him are Nike and Taylormade. He's already signed long term to UA so I think neither is a possibility. Nike isn't going to pay him that level of money and let him to continue to wear their biggest rivals clothing. And I think Taylormade would want him wearing Adidas, but I could be wrong.
[/quote]

I guess TM is cool with james hahn wearing UA so I could maybe see TM in his future. I really think the importance of the clubs is overstated so much for these guys. They can get something from each company that is 99.9999999% the exact same. If you can play almost exactly the same clubs but make millions more, why not?
[/quote]

What club does TM make that's "99.9999999% the exact same" as Titleist's AP-2?
[/quote]

Rsi tp?

Players cavity backs really aren't that different model to model.... Not to mention there are like a billion tour only models with shaved offset or other variables. The point is that with all the resources they have, they can come very very close. The model of irons jordan spieth uses is not going to make or break his career.
[/quote]

I guess that 0.0000000000001% difference are the slots.

Cavity back, or for that matter, muscle back clubs differ profoundly from manufacturer to manufacturer, their feel is very different even to a hacker, let alone to the touch of a world-class golfer.
[/quote]

yeah the slots are going to magically make a pro golfer hit it like crap. god knows how any of the TM pros do it.

[jmvargas]

my unsolicited advice to jordan:

......PLEASE STICK WITH WHAT WORKS!!

[c7015]

[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436789298' post='11938184']
[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?
[/quote]

even the indian needs to put in some time to get used of a new bow

[dan360]

this whole follow-the-money equipment change thing has been going on for decades. Nicklaus did it, Player, Trevino, Palmer, all of them. Back then of course stuff was pretty much all handmade so they could tweak clubs to make them nearly identical sans the stamps.

Tiger switched from Mizuno to Titleist to a Nike club that, for all intents and purposes, was a Mizuno/Titliest hybrid. It wasn't for a very long time did he play an original "Nike design" persay.

Payne Stewart way back in the day had one of the most prominent issues with a money driven equipment change. Stewart had won the PGA championship and U.S. Open when he left Wilson to sign a $7 million dollar deal with Spalding in 1994.

Forced to use game-improvement perimeter weighted irons for the first time -- as well as as the two-piece Top Flite ball -- Stewart lost much of his distance control and ability to shape shots. He went from sixth on the money list in 1993 to 123rd in 1994. In 1995, Spalding allowed him to switch to a forged blade, and he played better. But when he won the 1999 U.S. Open, Stewart didn't have a club contract and was playing a mixed bag that included Mizuno MP-14 irons.

One of his more famous quotes about the situation goes like this:

[i]for one thing, when you're playing as well as I was at the time, you think you can play with anything. That isn't true of course, but I didn't know it then.[/i]

[lenman73]

Does any one remember the flack Phil got for switching to Cally right before the rider cup ? If was as easy as just grabbing a club and swinging no one would have said a word. But I am sure a tour pro can tell the differences good or bad between brands better than the average golf forum poster.

[dan360]

The list can be added to. Lee Janzen, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, you can keep going.

Some guys are more in tune with their equipment than others and can really get in a slump by switching. When Spieth say things like "I can't imagine looking down and not seeing Titliest" it would take a LOT of money to get that thought process to change. Or a very good head shrinker.

[rukahs]

lol

 

 

[NYCgolfer17]

I didn't read the whole thread and someone might have suggested this already but maybe Under Armour will get into the golf club business. Hire some people from Titleist, TMAG, Callaway etc and build a line around Speith similar to what Nike did for Tiger. I don't think Nike was a big player (or a player at all) in the golf equipment business before tiger signed with them.

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1436748622' post='11936336']
I like Speith and agree he seems a loyal person.

But let's look at history...

Has Titelist ever been able to hold on to a world class player?

Unless Titelist is willing to make him a 10M a year guy.....Speith eventually leaves.

And nobody should blast him for disloyalty. Titelist is paying him and damn sure getting their monies worth.
[/quote]
Adam Scott?

[mosesgolf]

Whoever was responsible for signing Jordan to Under Armour long term before he became JORDAN SPIETH must be on cloud nine. Golf at Jordan's level is above and way beyond what any of us can ever imagine and that tiny little tweek in equipment, ball, etc can have a detrimental effect on someone like a Jordan Spieth. I say don't change a thing and continue on this magical trek.

[TheInfidel]

[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436793305' post='11938472']
[quote name='NevinW' timestamp='1436792189' post='11938384']
[quote name='pinhigh27' timestamp='1436789298' post='11938184']
[quote name='TheInfidel' timestamp='1436780503' post='11937896']
*For professional golfers and their OEMs only.

How many stories of nightmare equipment swaps do we have?

1. Rory spent 10 days on a range, hit 600 drivers with 12 different proto balls to get a covert that went straight
2. G-Mac went for the $$$ after his US Open win, left Callaway and form went down hill, had to go back to an OptiForce just to find a fairway.
3. Anyone remember Nick Watney? Yeah he loves his new Nike stuff, loves it a bunch from the couch at the weekend.

How many golfers have seen a dramatic improvement in form since they swapped OEM and as a result of equipment change only?

NADA.

If Jordan is as smart as he looks, that bag is going to be full of Titleist stash for YEARS.
[/quote]

Lol its the Indian not the arrow... You really think rory couldn't shoot 62 with a set of r7 draws?
[/quote]

That idea is said around here a lot, but history would argue otherwise. Many pros have struggled after switching clubs and brands.
[/quote]

no. that's correlation, not causation.

you realize the difference between being a solid player on tour and not keeping your card can be like 2 shots/rd on average? ie a player can just naturally have a good or bad year incredibly easily due to how competitive it is and how small the margins are between players.

pros are human too. sometimes they play bad, even for extended stretches of time, with absolutely nothing to do with equipment. you think those AP2s are magic for the 100s of mini tour guys that play them and can't make more than 5k a year playing golf?
[/quote]

Golf is a mental game, it's played well by the guys who use or manage the space between their ears the best. This doesn't always mean rational decision making regarding equipment. When you're hitting drives and sinking putts to put your kids through college then the Indian versus Arrow argument is the last great bluster from a non pro golfer. No offence. Sneds used a $12 putter and a $29 dollar driver to demonstrate this very eloquently. The decisive factor for the guys on tour is whether they "believe" in the stuff they're swinging, it doesn't have to be better than the next guys stuff, they just need to trust it 101%. Coupled to this are the contract terms that come along with the big pay cheque. If anyone thinks that Rory was keen to put the Vapor 3W in the bag for the first day of the Ryder Cup, they are dead wrong. Nike wanted the driver in too, and they said flat no. Contracts come with compromises. Titleist are better than some when it comes to this.

[jmvargas]

[quote name='NYCgolfer17' timestamp='1436795390' post='11938634']
I didn't read the whole thread and someone might have suggested this already but maybe Under Armour will get into the golf club business. Hire some people from Titleist, TMAG, Callaway etc and build a line around Speith similar to what Nike did for Tiger. I don't think Nike was a big player (or a player at all) in the golf equipment business before tiger signed with them.
[/quote]

....i don't have any figures on this but based on the very few guys i see using nike clubs around here i really don't think nike is a big player in the golf equioment business at all....

..their apparel line however is another story...

[johnnypro]

[quote name='Wedge Ninja' timestamp='1436742753' post='11935756']
Titleist has had nearly every big name in golf at some point. If I remember correctly, every single one of them has left. Let's be real. He won't be any different.
[/quote]

Agree totally.
As Tony Soprano said to Johnny Sack: "Everybody has a price......meet it!"

[jmplautz]

To paraphrase Chris Rock, A man is only as loyal as his options. After this season, Jordan is going to have a lot of options. And all bets are off if he completes the grand slam. He does that and it's open season starting at about $50 million a year.

My thought, after seeing what happened to Oakley with Rory, Under Armor is going to redo Jordan's contract at the end of the season and make him even richer than he already is and make him virtually impossible to steal away without an unreasonable amount of cash. Under Armor is in this for the long haul, they're signing up Universities left and right with uniform deals. Having the best young American golfer in their stable is priceless.

My 12 year old son does not follow pro golf, but he knows who Jordan Spieth is. And my son now loves Under Armor.

[jons1]

Sure, it seems like easy money to just play company X and get paid to do it, but I think it's very short sighted.

If you play with equipment you're confident with and familiar with, the money will take care of itself because you will be winning more, and winning = more money than most equipment deals (perhaps Tiger and Rory being the exceptions) when you consider purses, other endorsement opportunities etc. There are more opportunities for other types of sponsorships, like AT&T for example, to compensate. If you love the equipment and are getting paid a ton, well that's just gravy.

[Afraid2goLow]

This could be the worst thread on the board, he cant sign for Nike or TM because of conflicts with UA. UA can will and is paying more than Nike would. UA is already paying Spieth top $ and stock options of $UA that they give Spieth will be worth a lot more than the cash nike is paying Rory if $UA keeps growing at this rate.

The only viable option is Callaway but i dont see Spieth needing the extra money for a club sponsorship when he still doesn’t even have that many sponsers. I think he takes on a car sponsorship before he thinks about switching clubs I sure Mercedes, BMW and Toyota (a Dallas company now) are fighting it out for his signature.

[Sixcat]

Spieth's representatives sought a clothing deal that wouldn't conflict with his willingness to play Titleist equipment. UA has said numerous times, they have no intent in getting into the golf equipment manufacturing business. I'm not sure what more needs to be said.

Anything beyond that, at this point in time, is purely speculation.