Equipment News

By TG equipment editor

Ernie Els has switched to playing Callaway clubs.

The South African controverisally severed ties with his current sponsor Titleist, despite being contracted to play their clubs until the end of 2007.

Negotiations between the world No. 6 and Acushnet, the company who own Titleist, fell through, leaving Callaway with the option of buying out the remainder of his year.

It’s not certain what the make-up of Els’ bag will be when he tees up in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket this week, however he was seen using a Callaway Fusion driver during his practice round. There’s a good chance he may also switch from using a Titleist golf ball to the Callaway HX Tour ball. 

The move comes two months after the 37-year-old announced at the South African Airways Open in December that he was rededicating himself to becoming the world’s number one player. The rumours of his pending kit change came after he was spotted visiting Callaway’s European test facility in Surrey, just a few miles from his home in Wentworth.

It’s also Els’ third equipment change in the last 10 years. He won two of his three majors, the 1997 US Open and 2002 Open, playing TaylorMade equipment. Since signing to Titleist in 2003 he has won five tournaments on the PGA, but his last victory was back in 2004.

Els will join a host of high-profile Callaway players including Phil Mickelson and Charles Howell III. His coach, David Leadbetter, is also endorsed by Callaway. 

 

 

 

 

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