Golfer Bubba Watson's agent called a report that his client has agreed to a deal to use a Volvik golf ball starting next month "unsubstantiated rumors," according to the AP. Jens Beck, Watson's agent, declined further comment on the South Korean JoongAng Daily's report. Watson's deal with Titleist "expires at the end of this year." The AP noted Volvik, a Korean ball manufacturer, mainly has been used on the LPGA and is "best known for golf balls it produces in a variety of colors." Volvik USA President Shin Dong-hwan in the initial report said that Watson "suggested using a pink golf ball for the final round of tournaments -- and maybe even a green ball at the Masters." Volvik "planned to announce the deal next week," and the five-year agreement reportedly is worth about $1.2M a year, plus stock options and a signing bonus (AP, 12/14). GOLF DIGEST's E. Michael Johnson wrote it would "seem unlikely" that Watson would change golf balls, as he "doesn’t like to change his equipment." Watson is "persnickety in all aspects of his bats and golf ball and changing the ball would be a big change, especially given his penchant for curving the ball and shaping shots." However, Watson has a "contrarian bent to him." He also has an "infatuation with the color pink," as he "started using a pink-colored driver shaft" in '04. Golfer Tim Petrovic has used Volvik balls on the PGA Tour and on "any given week" a handful of LPGA players "can be seen with it in play" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 12/15).
BUILDING A BRIDGE: Tiger Woods this week signed a multiyear contract to play Bridgestone balls, and ESPN.com's Rovell & Harig noted Woods will be "featured in all advertising for the brand, including print and television ads." Woods also will be on "packaging and point-of-purchase displays." The golf ball market is "flat like the rest of the golf industry." But Bridgestone Golf Senior Marketing Dir Corey Consuegra said that Woods' decision "helps validate the credibility of the brand, whose most notable spokespeople include Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Fred Couples." Bridgestone is the "third-most popular golf ball in the business behind Titleist and Callaway" (ESPN.com, 12/15).
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS: In California, Larry Bohannan writes this is the time of year when golfer equipment contracts "expire, and the players become free agents looking for new clubs, new golf balls or new apparel to use in the new year." The "main question about equipment switches this year has been about Nike’s stable of golfers." Woods is still playing Nike irons, while Jason Day, who plays TaylorMade clubs, signed a $100M Nike apparel deal. Bohannan: "This multi-million game of checkers, jumping from one manufacturer to the other, is important because in this day and age of declining golf equipment sales, manufacturers are looking for any edge they can find in the public relations arena" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 12/16).
