"Wilson Golf’s Triton driver will make its retail debut on Black Friday, prior to being deemed conforming by the U.S. Golf Association.
The Triton, the winning product in the company’s Golf Channel reality show “Driver vs. Driver,” is scheduled to be available at more than 1,000 retail shops Nov. 25 and also online at DrivervsDriver.com.
“Wilson Golf has submitted the driver for conformance evaluation,” a USGA spokesman said in a Nov. 23 email. “The standard evaluation process may take up to four weeks and that process is still under way.”
It’s uncommon for a major equipment company to bring a nonconforming club or ball to market. Products typically receive USGA approval well in advance of the retail launch. A source familiar with the situation indicated that Wilson did not submit the Triton for review earlier because of Golf Channel’s confidentiality requirements.
“Due to the format of the show, the winning design was submitted and is now in the process of review,” said Lindsey Lasater, a marketing specialist at Wilson. “We expect to hear back soon.”
The Triton was created by Cincinnati resident Eric Sillies, who collected a $500,000 grand prize on the Nov. 22 season finale. Sillies’ design includes changeable titanium and carbon-fiber soles, 18 combinations of movable weights and six hosel settings."
– David Dusek contributed to this report.