Really a no-lose deal for Bridgestone, outside of the endorsement money obviously. It's not like their reputation is going to take a huge hit if Tiger's game doesn't come back, and should he become competitive again - they get a little more advertising bang for their buck.

It's not like Bridgestone is paying these handsome endorsement deals to a lot of players. The other factor is more a rhetorical question. He might still move the interest needle, but is his game going to return to the level where he can more confidently command endorsement money comparable to that of Dustin, Rory, Jordan, Jason, etc.? Or does he automatically qualify for that type of money based on his name and overall career?

He used to never have to be concerned about endorsements that packaged overall performance-based criteria as part of the deal, but I do wonder if that has changed now.

Weirfan

Good time , bad time, as long as the deal is right could survive the economic condition and have a head start when it turns around.
I'm sure there was no attractive proposal for TW to jump in at the present time. Whomever has the cash in the next 5 years could call his own shots.

    Weirfan

    Tiger maniac had simmered down over the last couple of year but lots of loyal fan. Not quite as Arnie;s Army but very close.
    You will be surprised of the recognition of Nike brand golf equipment within the group of younger golfers. Titlleist and Nike are the 2 most popular brands for the younger golfers ( whom have others to flip their bills ).

    How long has Callaway , Titleist been in business ? I remembered it took Callaway quite a few decades to get going and become a major OEM brand. Namely the S2H2 and the Big Bertha lines.
    Nike exit the equipment scene for a variety of reasons but don't count them out, It may resurface after 3-5 years after the current endorsement contract runs out and this time they will not be the major player as endorsement provider. If Nike returns to the equipment scene, I would not be surprised should they change the marketing effort a little different than the apparel section which targeted toward the younger consumers.
    I mean, not a lot of country club members interested in Nike equipment nor the Nike apparel . I had never seen an older golfer using or wearing Nike products around here.

    Kirkland branded golf balls is another case. Costco marked their items 15% over cost, and they negotiate the hack out of everything they carry, for price and the warranty terms....... not easy to do business with Costco in a long term relationship.
    When a 4 piece urethane covered golf ball priced below every entry level golf balls on the market, you'd bet there would a strong demand...... how long this will last ? Your guess is as good as mine.

    One thing for sure, Kirkland Signature golf ball started a revolution, which will bring the price of golf balls down across the board in 2017, or until the supplier of the K.S. golf ball ended the current agreement with Costco,

    • ode replied to this.

        LBlack14

        Cost ? They don't have a working Lab here because they are not based from the N. America. and they don;t have enough business to make economic sense by having a permanent lab here.

            Release
            Lab? Really? They have a presence here so I doubt cost is an issue to have a, more than adiquate(sp?), fitting facility.

              We are talking about a working lab ? Not a fitting center ?

              Working lab would produced a prototype from scratch, and not many OEM has one. Nike had one called "the oven" capable from design with CAD to forming prototype with metal or resin to custom fitting.
              Rumor had it when the Oven sent several irons ( wedge )to TW for testing and selecting, he could feel the difference of a couple of grams variation in head weight. which Nike R & D denied saying they were identical but later found out TW was correct.

              In the meantime, TMAG might sell a gazillion M2 drivers and fairways just because he appeared on TV with them. Imagine what will happen if/when he and Rory (and other Nike players?) sign with TM.

                sdandrea1

                First really noticed the TM was the inverted cone behind the face plate, which was non-conforming with .86 COR then a barrage of new drivers out in a hurry.

                M2 is good as I had seem what it did fro some of the guys I play with.
                They don't need TW to move the M2 .

                    Release

                    Tru since many tour players have made the switch, but TW playing TM clubs won't hurt them any. 😉

                      sdandrea1

                      Steve......I bought an M1 , before Tiger was playing TM just in case you were wondering who followed who 🙂

                      They are good drivers. Jimeng and I demoed the M2 up here for a round when he was visiting, M2 wasn't for me.

                          Weirfan

                          That's interesting Peter, because I demoed the M2 and did not like it either. I never hit an M1, but I have a damn fine 2007 Burner that is still my favorite driver. My Adams Blue is a sleeper too.....never expected it to be as good a unit that it is.

                            I'm sure Bridgestone got the better of this deal. They get to use his name and image in marketing; he(supposedly) gets only $1-2mil./yr.. He'll never see a cent of that figure after taxes, with his other income figured in. He may not have the pull of years past, but his name/image(physical) is still worthy of attention. He says he is 6 yds. longer than he ever was, with every club. If it could be attributed to the ball change, then B/stone will definitely profit from having him on board. I'm sure we will see this statement used as a marketing tool for their balls, if he allows it.

                            side note....I just read where the K-sig balls will be in stock 12/20. Same price deal.

                            Release u really think Costco and the Kirkland signature ball will start a revolution? With the price of balls in 17? I don't see it that way....they def have a cult following on wrx and have been wildly popular over there, but it is a Costco product, only available at Costco or online Costco. They are proving it can be done, that is offer a urethane ball for cheap. Been done before, just not on this scale, with this kind of distribution they have. Its an open model ball, basically a rebranded ball, there is no r and d into the ball by cistco, there is no tour presence and never will be....imo they won'timpact the bigs in any way. They may have an impact on some of the other smaller players in the market, which imo is not a good thing. Especially those that are trying to develop a product, putting r and d money towards that development, advertising dollars, etc. No way a company like that can sell a ball for the price that costco does. I hope you are right that these ball companies will lower their prices, but imo it ain't happening, it's more wishful thinking than anything.

                                ode I've read some of those reviews on wrx. Several say they play exactly the same as the Prov1 and they like it just as much. They then go on to say they will only play the Prov1 when it comes to tournaments and such. WTF? Those Dickheads are the reason the big OEM companies & brands do well. Facetious pricks, they are, imo.

                                    Par4QC in a way they are....many look down on components and consider them clones or inferior, yet when it comes to this product, they have no qualms about playing an open model ball, rebranded for Costco. It is interesting for sure....I suspect it's a decent product, but price it at prov1 price or b330 or z star or chrome...then give me a review.....it reminds me some of the TM red TP ldp, not much talk about this ball at full retail, but then it goes clearance and it's a long, low spin monster....where were the bulk of those reviews when it was full retail?

                                    Anyways, I don't buy that much will change with the ball market, it's just Costco doing what they do.

                                        ode Costco states they have no idea about the balls specs/makeup, and they don't care. It was offered to them at the price point they could handle in order to sell them as cheaply as they are. Something tells me they may be leaving themselves open for a helluva lawsuit.

                                        Makes no diff to me as I do not play 'expensive' balls($15/doz.).😉

                                          ode

                                          You're right about that. No love until there's a deal involved, then boom - greatest thing since sliced bread! LOL

                                          I played the TM TP Red for a couple of years and thought it was a great ball, especially when they were being heavily discounted because they were discontinuing the model in lieu of their debut of the Penta.

                                          I seriously doubt that I will ever find a ball that I feel more confident with than the Titleist ProV1 X, however comparable most all premium balls are today. It has something the rest don't have with me: a good history.

                                          But I ain't one to pass up a good deal either. 😉

                                          • ode likes this.

                                            ode

                                            I predict the general price for all major brand of golf balls will drop in 2017 comparing to the 2016 price line if Costco has the continuation of supply for the K.S. golf balls.
                                            I don't think the ProV1 will ever drop to $17 per doz. for new in the box, but competition will keep the potential price increase at bay.

                                            There will always be suckers paying more for brand names so they could be different. Like those idiots buying the entry level European automobile and pay over $300 per hour for maintenance. The entry level luxury automobile has the logo and the marker of the brand, and that's all. The quality is less than what other brands offer, but, there are those wish to drive a logo down the street.

                                            Costco's business model had been successful. Everyone I know will get their bathroom paper and other stuff from Costco , for the re-branded stuff is the same or better than the name brand in other stores.

                                            We shop Costco for 80% of our household supply. Living close to one of the warehouse makes it convenient to stop by each week.

                                            • ode replied to this.

                                                People who can afford new Suburbans and Tahoes aren't worried about fuel going back up to 4 bucks per gallon.

                                                People who predominately play ProV's (or whatever other $46/doz premium ball) ain't concerned about how much they cost.

                                                Release Costco is interesting to me....I have two good friends/coworkers that are quite liberal, buy local, can't stand Wal Mart and would not be caught dead in one ofthe stores, yet they are avid Costco shoppers....I realize Costco and WM are different, but it's still interesting to me. They rave about the products and savings. Have they made a difference like you are suggesting they will do in the ball market, in any other market? Curious?

                                                I still dont see the big guys changing their price structure significantly, why would they, ? No way they can adjust price enough to come even close to the Costco ball. I don't see them as competition anyway, as most follow what the pro,s play and then there are golfers like us, wrx, etc. Who are kinda on the fringe and techy, knowledgeable more so then the avg now golfer, at least about gear and especially about being a ho for gear. We are in the minority.

                                                IMO this hurts Snell, Vice, MG, etc. And if they do have an impact it will be to squeeze these guys out, which would be a shame really.