Equipment
TaylorMade buys Adams Golf
Adidas Group, the parent company of TaylorMade-adidas, announced Monday that it has agreed to purchase Adams Golf brand for the approximate price of $70 million.
TaylorMade will acquire all outstanding shares of Adams for 10.80 per share in cash. The agreement is subject to shareholder and government approval, which TaylorMade CEO Mark King expects to be finalized by midyear.
Adams will remain in its current headquarters in Plano, Texas, a decision King said was made because of his company’s struggles with previous company acquisitions.
“We want Adams to keep its identity,” King said in a Monday conference call. “Treating them as an affiliate helps their growth.”
King said that the purchase of Adams Golf emphasizes his company’s commitment to growth, and strengthens TaylorMade’s ability to market to players seeking game improvement clubs, as well as women and seniors, segments that are very strong in the Adams brand. He also said that for a smaller company, Adams had great ideas around intellectual property, which was a very enticing part of the deal.
“One of the things that having multiple brands helps you do is explore different product strategies,” King said. “We didn’t really take an approach on this around synergy. But if there are those we can take naturally, we’ll do it. But we’re not going to put Adams and Yes! products in the TaylorMade tour van … I don’t see the products streamlining.”
King said that TaylorMade’s voice is directed at players with handicaps between 0-4, such as serious amateurs, college players and professionals. There had been conversation at TaylorMade about releasing a senior line, but King said his company made the decision to keep marketing aimed at “the top of the pyramid.”
“We made a foray into women’s club,” King said, “but when you don’t market it heavily and you don’t have your heart in it, that’s what you get. [Adams] is in the sweets spot of the group we don’t market to today.”
One of the first orders of business for TaylorMade will be locating a leader for the Adams brand. Former CEO Chip Brewer left Adams Golf for Callaway Golf on Feb. 28, leaving Adams Golf founder Barney Adams as the interim CEO. King said TaylorMade is looking for a candidate this is willing to live in Plano and can emotionally connect with the brand. His company is searching inside its brand, as well as doing an executive search.
King said that TaylorMade can help Adams in several areas, such as the international community. According to King, company sales for Adams are only 10 percent overseas, while TaylorMade sells about 60 percent of its products internationally.
“The [international] network already exists,” King said. “They would be funneling product into existing channels.”
According to King, this will most likely be done through a small Adams team working with TaylorMade’s infrastructure outside the U.S., and possibly creating specific product lines for countries such as Asia, which is common for large OEMs such as TaylorMade.
Adams also lacks a golf ball and accessory lines, which King said TaylorMade could bolster for Adams.
Click here for the press release and discussion.
Click here for more discussion on TaylorMade CEO Mark King’s conference call.
This story was first leaked by GolfWRX on March 8.
Click here to see the original leak — a thread in Tour/Pre-Release Equipment.
Equipment
Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut
Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.
So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)
Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.
Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.
Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.
Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.
Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.
Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”
And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.
Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
- ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”
Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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CTB
Jun 7, 2014 at 4:24 am
I do not think that is going to work. I think that whatever this guy says genuine or not will ultimately lead to the Prior Adams shareholders buying their company back at a premium or TM slowly but surely putting that brand to death. Go find yourself a nice new and shiny set of CMB’s and hold on to them for twenty years. Never hit them hide them in a closet. They will be the only set like it and you will be able to charge what you want for them. Just hope they do not end up as some kmart brand. That would suck. I like the TM MB’s they just released. In fact I like them more than the titleist mb’s. Think they need to get rid of all those other gimmick sticks they are offering every year to the weekend warrior type player that never works at his or her game if they want to only market to the premium player though. Accushnet Titleist has one driver with different weighting options and size I guess, and a set of MB’s, CB’s, and until just a few years ago they now have AP2’s and the cast Iron POS AP1. When a scratch golfer goes to the store to look at new clubs guess what is on their mind? I wonder if there are Titleist mb’s or cb’s in good condition that are priced nicely . They will pick other brands if and only if they catch their eye. Maybe 15% of the time. When all the clubs feel the same or the titleist clubs feel a little better, barely noticeable, guess what is getting bagged that day. Titleist.
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May 10, 2013 at 9:42 pm
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Jonathan Paine
Feb 12, 2013 at 1:03 am
Did Mr. Brewer leave Adams on his own and then unexpectedly TMAG buys Adam’s Golf? Adams and TMAG former employees are now at Callaway in Senior Management and previous Callaway Senior Management is let go? Adam’s Golf = $90M in a good year – Callaway Golf = $800M in a bad year. How can a management team from Adam’s (perhaps voted out by share holders)with zero global experience turn around a struggling battleship where 50% of their bus. is outside of the U.S.? What am I missing here?
Harold Lee Hairston
Dec 16, 2012 at 8:59 am
I left Taylormade for ADAMS Golf Clubs. These are the best clubs I have played. Adams was company with good people and equipment, especially Customer Service Manager Laura Fisher. I had plan to buy a new set of Adams Clubs this year because of the good experience and quality of their products. Now, I am not sure about their ongoing leadership
Pingback: GolfWRX.com – TaylorMade buys Adams Golf — CEO Mark King … | Golf Products Reviews
Sue Cline
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Dear Mr. King, Saw undercover boss that you were in recently and was really moved by all you did for the workers. It’s great to be appreciated. You really showed that you care about people. I had to smile when you went to Liberty , Township( Girard Ohio, ) and I am From Youngstown, Ohio. I live now in Tenn. Thanks Sue
john
Mar 31, 2012 at 1:56 pm
BVS you must be a TM rep or a knucklehead.
john
Mar 31, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Sad day. TM makes garbage and sells it with tons of hype. I’ve never hit a TM club that I liked but I’ve been playing Adams for years. I’m sure clubs like my forged A4s and the CB line are done because they are so much better than anything TM makes. Thanks for everything Barney, you’ll be sorely missed. P.S. Rocketballz is the dumbest name in history.
jeff
Mar 26, 2012 at 8:03 pm
mb line I mean
jeff
Mar 26, 2012 at 7:55 pm
I really hope the mg line stays. Such great looking and feeling irons.
James
Mar 23, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I play Adams because of their design and innovation, TM will not be seen in my bag, as Ben said, the RBZ technology was copied from Adams, they made the worst irons the past 10 years and changed the design every 6 months, they are a marketing machine and every golfing fool who fall for their marketing will buy a new driver every 6 month. I PLAYED FOUNDERS CLUB CB Tour designed by Barney Adams for 8 years as a 0 handicap. No other set of irons could improve on them. Then I found the CB1’s and the New MB2’s. I will stick with them for the next 10 yrs. while all the TM fanatics spend thousends of $$$ buying white paint as the latest technology. Long live Adams, TM targeting 0 to 4 handicap golfers, my word with the crap shafts they put in their clubs, and RBZ oversize irons!!! R 11 irons for handicap 0 to 4 golfers, Same as Callaway insisting that their RAZR Tour irons is for 0 handicap golfers.
Ben
Mar 23, 2012 at 10:25 am
Taylormade needed the patent for the slot on the top of the hybrid and fairway woods. They paid $70million for a patent.
Parks
Jan 21, 2013 at 2:30 am
Best comment so far. I’m a mechanical engineer and design all kinds of consumer products, probably a few things in all of your homes today. When I heard of this sale this is the first thing I thought of. The slight slot in the bottom of the RBZ’s was getting pretty close to what Adams was doing so they scooped it up. It’s just business as usual.
Pingback: A Few Thoughts On The Adams Golf Sale
Sean patterson
Mar 21, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Here’s the problem…
Penta golf ball will never be the pro v….their white putters will never be a Scotty….and their wedges will never be vokeys…
Thanks for playing the number 1 ball in golf.
DS
Mar 21, 2012 at 10:57 am
Not a fan of TaylorMade and not a fan of this move. Yes! putters are some of the best out there, but now that TaylorMade has their hands on them, they’ll either squash them completely or turn them into garbage just like the other putters in the TM line. I think it’s funny that TM supposedly markets their products to the 0-4 handicap player. Riiiiiiight! That’s why they release either different models of every club each year and continue to lengthen the shafts and strengthen lofts… because the low handicap player doesn’t hit far enough, right? No, they market to the hacker who thinks that every new driver and iron is going to make them a tour pro instantly. That’s who they market too and that’s why TM is and always will be crap.
nick
Mar 20, 2012 at 4:21 pm
I hate TM with a passion.
Long live the original Adams Golf.
JohnD.
Mar 20, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Yep, this is sad news. I feel like I found out a family member has a few days left to live. I play Hogan Apex irons and IMO, some of the best playing and most beautiful clubs ever. Callaway comes along and BAM…Hogan has left the building. When the commerical came out with Kenny Perry hitting the Adams 3 wood and then saying, “This thing is a rocket!!!” I looked at my wife and said, ‘TM will not like that at all since they were launching the Rocketballz line’. I guess they got really pissed! Later Barney
BVS
Mar 20, 2012 at 7:49 am
People get over yourself this is a great thing for adams . A great company with a great track record is going to help Adams . Better TaylorMade -Adidas then Underarmor or Oakely buying them who knows nothing about golf clubs . Like it or not TaylorMade Golf is the best.Do you have rocket ballz I do haha.
Jonsson
Mar 20, 2012 at 1:27 am
Oh the disappointment..
What a disaster this is.. I’m gaming CB1 irons and I’m waiting for the Fast 12 LS driver and matching woods to arrive and I’m glad I got to buy the clubs before TM ruins the brand..
Adams might have been a niche product in the golfing industry, but the made serious woods and hybrids and some top irons as well..
Gues the guys at TM couldn’t stand being second when it came to performance and innovation in the woods and hybrids..
RIP Adams
– You’ll be missed…
larry spittler
Mar 20, 2012 at 12:46 am
Have been playing Adams for last 12 years and I am glad I just my new set before Taylor Made gets a chance to trash the brand. May have to check ebay for a used set to keep as a back up. Sad day for golf. Thanks Barney for being true for as long as you could.
Adam bray
Mar 19, 2012 at 10:32 pm
BLAH! There goes Adams and Yes!. Taylor Made is all about the gimmick. Get ready for Adams drivers to start showing up painted white and adjusting 5 different ways but feel like total garbage and Yes! putters showing up with stupid names like Rock-it-putter.
RIP Adams.
Steve
Mar 19, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Not a fan of this move. Callaway bought out Hogan and squashed it to never be heard from again. i think Adams is a great brand and a great company to deal with. Taylor Made stinks if you’re a green grass golf course. Sorry to see it happen.
fran21356
Mar 19, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I saw what Taylor Made did to the quality of Maxfli’s irons after buying them up. They were trash and I’m afraid they’ll do the same thing to Adams. Adams will do the R&D and Taylor Made will use it in their clubs. They were always at best number two when it came to hybrids so they bought up the competition and will probably destroy what was a quality company that made top notch clubs for golfers who didn’t want to pay $500.00 for a club. Sorry to hear the news Barney, we’ll miss you.
baker
Mar 19, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Kelli Kuehne won the US Women’s Amateur playing Adams irons when they were the only thing he sold. Sold out of a stall at Hank Haney’s Golf Ranch.
nikksto
Mar 19, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Slayed by the Giant.
All this so they can win the hybrid count on tour…..sad, sad day.
PinkGolf
Mar 19, 2012 at 6:36 pm
No mention of the #1 Player on the LPGA Yani Tseng who uses Adams Golf Clubs – uh yes she a golf pro and Brittany Lincicome #10 on Rolex ranking also uses Adams. Adams clubs are not just for seniors and amauteur women golfers! I hope they stay true to Adams brand, and don’t merge them.
Timothy
Mar 19, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Truly a sad day in Golf. I am going to miss Adams iron and hybrid innovation. The A12 forged irons and A12 hybrid are my favorite clubs. Looks like all the irons are going to be bent 4 degrees forward and a half inch longer and branded with RBZ and called the longest hitting irons on the market. uuggghh. no more forged irons to I assume.
Bryan
Mar 19, 2012 at 6:10 pm
I guess I should have said Idea Pro rather than CB1 since Adams has already stopped producing that particular model.
Bryan
Mar 19, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Agreed again – What will happen to the CB1 and MB line? Will they remove it so it doesn’t compete with the 0-4 handicapper segment? I really hope they don’t start sticking the “made for” shafts in Adams gear.
Greg
Mar 19, 2012 at 10:00 am
This is truely terrible news for those of us that love the Adams gear that isn’t targeted at high-handicappers, seniors and ladies. RBZ strikes again.