January 1: First Big Player Switches Become Apparent
/This year should be a little more chaotic in the player-endorsement turnover game, especially with players seemingly more comfortable playing mixed bags (perhaps not by choice either).
Throw in Nike's equipment exit, PXG entering the equation and Callaway adding its biggest name since Phil Mickelson, it should be fun to hear the stock quotes, spin and speculation.
Jason Day took to Instragram to confirm the expected (and lucrative) move to Nike apparel with a thank you to all of his sponsors:
Nike was more transparent, with their first image accompanied by his "narrative." Melodramatic...
Jonathan Wall at PGATour.com with a few more details on a dream-come-true moment for Day.
Rory McIlroy's move to a Callaway-Odyssey-Titleist setup was most eye-opening in the irons and putter department. First reported by No Laying Up, McIlroy had been rumored for weeks to be leaning toward Callaway's forthcoming Epic driver, but adding their irons and replacing the Scotty Cameron he put back in the bag with an Odyssey putter appears to be a big change. Meanwhile Titleist, battling off Costco's foray into their territory, brings McIlroy back into the ball family.
