Golfer Bubba Watson officially has signed to "play a Volvik golf ball" in '17, beginning with this week's PGA Tour SBS Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, according to Jeff Babineau of GOLFWEEK. Watson will play a model "called the White Color S4, which he says is called 'Blue Pearl,' and will wear the company's logo on his sleeve." He previously played the Titleist Pro V1x. After signing the deal, which was first reported last month, Watson becomes the "biggest name to play the Volvik ball." He said yesterday, "You know where I got the idea (to play a Volvik)? Watching the (World) Long Drive on television" (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/2). Watson said he "couldn't come up with anything wrong with them" after testing the ball in November. He added, "Then it comes down to the fun factor -- how could you not want a colored ball when you have a colored driver." GOLF DIGEST's E. Michael Johnson noted having a company "willing to listen to his input also was important to Watson." He has "already asked about the possibility of making balls with a pink-and-white swirl or camouflage finish" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 1/2).
CLOSE TO A DECISION? GOLFWEEK's David Dusek cites a post from golf blog No Laying Up that Rory McIlroy "will be using" a Callaway driver and irons when he "returns to action at the BMW South Africa Open on Jan. 12." McIlroy also will play with Titleist wedges, an Odyssey "prototype putter" and Titleist Pro V1x balls. McIlroy had used Nike equipment since '14, but the company announced last summer it would no longer "make clubs, balls and bags." Before signing with Nike, the four-time major winner played Titleist clubs and used the Pro V1x (GOLFWEEK.com, 12/31). SI's Jeff Ritter noted McIlroy and other former Nike players "could very well make multiple equipment switches this year searching for a permanent solution." SI's Alan Shipnuck: "This could just be a dalliance and who knows what contracts he winds up signing. There's always a business side to these choices." PGA Tour caddie John Wood: "He can do the math and figure out there is no financial reason to play any club he doesn't think is the best in its field. In my mind he is most likely not chasing any of this equipment with an endorsement in mind, but narrowing his choices to find what his best options are to win golf tournaments. The contracts will be there in the end" (GOLF.com, 1/1).
NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK: GOLF DIGEST's Alex Myers noted Jason Day's "change to Nike gear became official on Sunday" after posting an image on his Instagram account "that could double as a Nike billboard." Day's move to Nike from TaylorMade-adidas was first reported in September and had been "one of the worst-kept secrets in golf." He will debut in Nike gear this week at Kapalua (GOLFDIGEST.com, 1/1).
