Molinari said that he misses the support he was getting from Nike and the guys building the clubsGETTY IMAGES
GOLF.com's Kevin Cunningham noted Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari wears Nike apparel on the course, but the company's decision to quit the golf club business in '16 has "allowed a bunch of Nike-sponsored pro golfers like Molinari (as well as fellow 2018 major winners Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed) to seek out new clubs to swing on Tour." Molinari, who currently does not have an equipment deal, said of what he misses most about playing Nike equipment, “To be honest, it made me realize as well how good of support I was getting from Nike and the guys building the clubs” (GOLF.com, 8/1).
SELL, SELL, SELL: The PGA Championship begins next week at Bellerive Country Club, and PGA Senior Dir of Merchandising & Liscencing Mike Quirk believes that hat sales at the merchandise shop "could hit 100,000 over 10 days." Quirk said, "I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’re hoping it will be the best PGA Championship ever." In St. Louis, Stu Durando notes crowds are "expected to be so large that 50 cash registers will be open on peak days." Measuring 360 feet by 130 feet, the space is a "sensory overload of colored golf apparel and unexpected merchandise, almost all of which is available only in the store" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/2).
CASE DISMISSED: GOLFCHANNEL.com's Rex Hoggard noted a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals "largely upheld" a U.S. District Court ruling "dismissing a lawsuit between a group of caddies and the PGA Tour last week." The caddies originally filed the lawsuit in '15 "claiming that the bibs caddies wear during tournament rounds prevents them from seeking their own sponsorship opportunities." The panel "did remand to the district court its decision to not allow the caddies to amend their federal antitrust claims." Whether the caddies "will collectively decide to continue to pursue the lawsuit remains unclear" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 8/1).
LOOKING AHEAD: Ohio-based Westfield Insurance "will serve as a sponsorship partner" of the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship from '19-'22. Bridgestone in April "signed on to be the Senior Players Championship title sponsor" through '22 (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 8/1).
