Cobra golf “hasn’t officially closed the door on its endorsement deal” with LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau, but it “appears to be a sad ending for a dysfunctional relationship that began with much promise,” according to Adam Schupak of GOLFWEEK. DeChambeau was in Phoenix this week at Ping HQ “testing equipment” after the golfer “became an equipment free agent at the end of the year when his contract with Cobra-Puma expired.” Sources said that Cobra “had been negotiating with DeChambeau and his agent Brett Falkoff, to extend their relationship.” But another source said that as part of DeChambeau’s LIV Golf contract, “the upstart league had to sign off on the equipment deal and allow Cobra to use his likeness from its tournament footage.” Sources added that LIV “had a proposal since at least October and had been unresponsive.” During last week's Asian Tour PIF Saudi International, DeChambeau “put a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus+ driver into play” which “was the last straw for Cobra.” Schupak noted DeChambeau “was informed ahead of time that there would be repercussions if he opted to play a TaylorMade driver but did so anyway" (GOLFWEEK, 2/9).
NO GUARANTEES: GOLF DIGEST’s E. Michael Johnson noted there has “been a guessing game” ongoing as to what company the former U.S. Open champ might join moving forward. The reality, though, for any company considering adding DeChambeau is that “the 29-year-old brings with him a host of quirks that would cause you to proceed with caution.” Johnson: “Signing DeChambeau is a very different proposition than most any other tour pro, for a variety of reasons, some of which might be enough for a club company to say thanks but no thanks” (GOLF DIGEST, 2/9).
Bryson DeChambeau has been one of Cobra-Puma Golf's most high-profile endorsers since he joined them in 2016Getty Images
