Couched: Nike Parts Ways With Golfer After He Plays Titleists

Nike Ends Relationship With Couch After He Plays Titleist Ball In Tournament

PGA Tour member Chris Couch’s head-to-toe Nike deal “ended unceremoniously in late June after Nike learned that Couch had played a Titleist ball" during the Travelers Championship, according to GOLFWEEK’s Forecaddie.  Sources said that Couch “reported using a Nike ball to Darrell Survey, the company that logs equipment use, but then played a Titleist" at the tournament.  On June 27, the day before the Buick Open, he “was said to have taken his Nike irons out of his bag and handed them over to a Nike rep” on the practice range.  For the first round the next day, Couch wore a Titleist bucket cap and Nike shirt, and used Ping irons, a TaylorMade driver and a Titleist ball.  Nike Golf Global Sports Marketing Dir Kel Devlin said of the move to end the deal, “We have a head-to-toe strategy at Nike and the golf ball is a big part of that.” Couch, who has only made 7 of 20 cuts this year, said, “I gave up some good money to do what I did, but I’m happy I made the right choice” (GOLFWEEK, 7/14 issue).