Honma Golf officially signed Justin Rose to a multi-year equipment deal that will see him "lead Honma's worldwide tour presence," according to Jonathan Wall of GOLF.com. The new deal "requires Rose, who will play a part in future product development, to carry a Honma bag and have the brand's logo on both sides of his hat." Prior to signing Rose, Honma's "top-ranked player on the PGA Tour" was Hideto Tanihara, who is ranked 174th in the world. It has been "rumored that Honma could bolster its Tour staff with a couple more players in the coming weeks." With World No. 2 Rose now in the fold, Honma has an "immediate presence on the PGA Tour," something former TaylorMade CEO and current Honma strategic advisor Mark King has been "working towards since he was hired" in August. King is "believed to be running Honma's North American operation with the hiring of former executives who previously worked alongside him" at TaylorMade (GOLF.com, 1/1). GOLFWEEK's David Dusek reported Rose's contract is for 10 clubs, "including the driver." Rose is "not under contract to play a specific golf ball, and it is anticipated he will continue to play the TaylorMade TP5." Honma Golf Chair Liu Jianguo said that Rose's presence on TV and his social media following "will boost awareness of Honma in the North American and European markets" (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/1).
FREE AGENCY SWING: Wall also reported Paul Casey, a free agent since Nike stopped making clubs in '16, was photographed with a Honma iron at the Sentry Tournament of Champions this week in Hawaii. It is "not yet clear if Casey and Honma have a deal in place, or if he's merely switching to a new set of irons, but the timing is interesting with the Rose signing." Casey would be the third of the "equipment free agents" to sign new deals this season after Kevin Na joined Callaway and Gary Woodland was "photographed with a Wilson Staff hat" (GOLF.com, 1/2).
