Tour News
Callaway hires Nike Golf ball guru Rock Ishii

Callaway has hired Nike Golf ball ball guru Hideyuki “Rock” Ishii, making him Senior Director of Advanced Golf Ball Research.
“Adding Rock to our already exceptional ball team will strengthen our ability to investigate new construction methods and improve our evaluation of golf ball performance, leading to better products for golfers at every level,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Callaway’s Senior Vice President of R&D.
Ishii was Nike Golf’s Senior Director of Innovation for Golf Balls before the company’s announcement that it would stop producing golf clubs and balls. He was part of Nike’s original hard goods team, starting with the company in 1996.
During his time with Nike, Ishii worked closely with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and others to develop golf balls to their exact specifications, including the ball Woods used to win the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a record 15 shots.
“By further investing in R&D, at a time when we believe others are or will be forced to pull back, we view this as an excellent opportunity to further strengthen our technical position and build for the future,” said Chip Brewer, President & CEO, Callaway Golf.
Last month, Callaway acquired putter company Toulon Design, led by former TaylorMade Senior Vice President of Product Creatiomn Sean Toulon. Toulon is now General Manager of the Odyssey putter brand, as well as a senior vice president at Callaway Golf.
According to Golf Datatech, Callaway is the fastest growing major golf ball brand since 2013.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2025 3M Open

GolfWRX is live from the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities!
Back from our overseas journey, we have plenty for you to digest from Minnesota, including WITBs and in-hand looks at some pretty impressive putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #1
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #2
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #3
- 2025 3M Open – Tuesday #4
WITB Albums
- Luke List – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Isaiah Salinda – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Kaito Onishi – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Seamus Power – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Chris Kirk – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Andrew Putnam – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Thomas Campbell – Minnesota PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2025 3M Open
- Max Herendeen – WITB – 2025 3M Open
Pullout Albums
- Rickie’s custom Joe Powell persimmon driver – 2025 3M Open
- Custom Cameron T-9.5 – 2025 3M Open
- Tom Kim’s custom prototype Cameron putter – 2025 3M Open
- New Cameron prototype putters – 2025 3M Open
- Zac Blair’s latest Scotty acquisition – 2025 3M Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2025 Open Championship

GolfWRX was live this week across the pond for The Open Championship! Check out links to all our galleries from Royal Portrush below.
General Albums
- 2025 The Open Championship – Sunday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Monday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Monday #2
- 2025 Open Championship – Monday #3
- 2025 The Open Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 The Open Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 The Open Championship – Wednesday #1
Pullout Albums
- Cobra’s 153rd Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Srixon’s Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Scotty Cameron 2025 Open Championship putter covers – 2025 The Open Championship
- TaylorMade’s 153rd Open Championship staff bag – 2025 The Open Championship
- Shane Lowry – testing a couple of Cameron putters – 2025 The Open Championship
- New Scotty Cameron Phantom Black putters(and new cover & grip) – 2025 The Open Championship
- FootJoy x Harris Tweed limited-edition shoes – 2025 The Open Championship
- Nike “Open Championship” collection shoes, bags and hoodies – 2025 The Open Championship
Dan
Nov 6, 2016 at 4:58 pm
Based on a number of these comments, Callaway’s future ball offerings will be awful then, surely, seeing as Nike’s balls were so terrible, when designed by Rock Ishii.
Mike Honcho
Nov 4, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Now if Callaway will get off their adoption of the TM driver product cycle, they’ll be a true force and leader.
Daniel
Nov 4, 2016 at 12:24 am
Tiger go to Callaway?….
RAT
Nov 3, 2016 at 6:52 pm
Since when was Nike ever a great golf ball! THE ONLY GOLF THING NIKE HAS BEEN SOME WHAT GOOD AT IS CLOTHING , NOT SHOES with that giant swoosh on the top of the toes, UGLY…
I believe Callaway got stuck.!!!!
SteveID
Nov 4, 2016 at 1:21 am
Thanks for the ALL CAPS, chief.
Juice
Nov 4, 2016 at 9:48 am
Your name is perfect!
Ben
Nov 4, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Agreed. Anyone test out top of the line Nike’s on a monitor? At least for me they go shorter, spin much less off short irons/wedges and go lower on all other shots. Every costco ball I’ve bought is better than the Nike’s. No comparison…
Prime21
Nov 5, 2016 at 6:43 am
Stick w/ the Costco chief, it’s better for ladies swing speeds. Nike’s softest premium ball spun less than the v1x, which is why you hit everything lower, you simply could not launch it. If one cannot compress a ball, it doesn’t fly high thus far because it doesn’t stay in the air. You should probably try that Noodle ball too!
Mike
Nov 3, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Idk how I feel about a guy named “Rock” making golf balls.
COGolfer
Nov 3, 2016 at 8:40 pm
If you’ve ever hit any of the Nike balls, you’ll understand where the name comes from.
Jonathan
Nov 3, 2016 at 5:13 pm
I think this is, in part, a ploy to get McIlroy. Rory has stated that the biggest change for him, and the one he will take the longest with, is the golf ball. Rory is really happy with the ball he’s playing now and having the guy that designed that ball at Callaway likely brings Callaway into play. Just my $0.02.
Ben
Nov 4, 2016 at 4:38 pm
why can’t he just play a prov1 and have them print something else on the cover?
moneypowerrespect
Nov 3, 2016 at 3:06 pm
great move – nike rzn tour is probably the best ball out currently. Rory won’t be needing to worry about his depleting his 3 year supply. He’ll just get Ishii to make him nike rzn tour balls with hex dimples.
Mark
Nov 3, 2016 at 11:51 am
Seriously? For every great ball Nike made they put out another dozen pieces of junk.
Voltman
Nov 3, 2016 at 11:19 am
Very smart move from Callaway. Maybe Tiger and Rory joining Callaway soon?
Tom
Nov 3, 2016 at 1:10 pm
that’s a big ask.