Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends, European Tour
It may not be one of life's great debates, but on the PGA Tour it's a dilemma to ponder with every bit the seriousness of "tastes great or less filling?"As the 2011 PGA Tour season prepares to begin this week in Hawaii at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the big for-dimpleheads-only news is that Graeme McDowell (pictured), Jim Furyk and Camilo Villegas -- all three coming off huge seasons -- changed equipment companies.
McDowell, the Northern Irishman who came from almost nowhere to become one of the world's top players by winning the U.S. Open and staring in Europe's Ryder Cup victory, signed a multi-year deal to represent Srixon after playing so well last year with Callaway. Furyk, PGA Tour Player of the Year on the strength of three victories and the FedEx Cup, has joined TaylorMade after representing Srixon. And Villegas, who picked up his third career victory last year, also will represent TaylorMade after leaving Cobra.
The moves obviously are about business. McDowell's multi-year deal is reportedly worth about $3 million per season. Furyk and Villegas were also rewarded handsomely.
For equipment companies the endorsement money is the cost of doing business. Marketing research shows a direct correlation between clubs on tour and retail sales.
So equipment companies offer big money and players are inclined to accept.
And everybody is happy -- most of the time.
More Elliott: Predicting Golf's 2011 Storylines
Just not always.
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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/01/04/notebook-why-change-clubs-after-strong-season/
Crawford, Jamal Crawford, Jordan Cunningham, Dante Curry, Eddy Curry, Stephen
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