Equipment
Report: Jason Day signs shoe, apparel and hat deal with Nike
ESPN’s Darren Rovell is reporting that Nike has signed World No. 1 Jason Day to an endorsement deal that will have him wearing the company’s shoes, apparel and hat. The deal is worth approximately $10 million per year, according to Rovell.
This year (2016) was the final year of Day’s endorsement contract with TaylorMade-Adidas, which had the golfer wearing Adidas golf shoes and apparel and using TaylorMade’s golf balls and clubs.
According to Rovell, Day re-signed with TaylorMade to use its clubs and balls, but was able to negotiate an outside apparel/shoe deal with Nike because of two factors:
- Adidas’ decision to sell its TaylorMade golf brand (read more).
- Nike’s decision to exit its golf ball and club business (learn more).
We’ll update this story as more information becomes available. See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Day/Nike signing in our forum.
In a golf world where players are looking to eke out every yard possible, usually by lengthening their drivers to add clubhead speed, there’s one player at the PGA Championship who’s going in the opposite direction. In fact, for Rickie Fowler, his goal off the tee is not about gaining extra distance or yards north to south, but rather about shrinking the misses from east to west.
Ahead of the PGA Championship and the week prior at the Truist Championship. Fowler mentioned to Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin that the driver didn’t quite swing feel the same as everything in the bag. As a result, and with Schomin’s suggestion to try and sync everything up with the big stick, Fowler decided to test out a shorter length shaft.
“He’s been at 45 (inches), and he’d been at 45 for a few weeks, 44 1/8 (inches) is really is where he is been living really for the most part, for the last couple of years, and is where he is been comfortable,” Schomin told GolfWRX. “It just felt like it was a little long and loose on him.”
Interestingly, Fowler ranks 40th in Driving Accuracy this year on the PGA Tour. It’s his most accurate season with the driver since the start of the decade. But sometimes for players, feel is more important than statistics.
“It was really more of a trying to get the swing to feel the fluidness from club to club to club to try to get it to feel the same,” Schomin added. “And so we took it down to 43 and a quarter, and it was a touch of a ball speed loss, just based on that overall club head speed. But honestly, he squared it up probably a little better. The right miss wasn’t nearly as far. So really, overall down-range dispersion tightened up a fair amount, and he felt confident in swinging it.”
The change in length had Fowler’s caddie, Ricky Romano, beaming at how well he had driven during Tuesday’s practice round at Aronimink. So much so, he was asking Schomin not to suggest changes anymore.
Fowler’s shaft-shortening is one of a few driver adjustments he’s made this season, and to Schomin’s credit, it’s thanks to the fact that he and the rest of the Cobra team had Fowler fit very well into three of the four heads in the Cobra OPTM lineup.
“He had three distinct drivers and the biggest decision was trying to decide which worked best at that time,” Schomin told GolfWRX previously. “He’s played the majority of the season with OPTM X, but has also played a couple of tournaments with OPTM LS. His overall driving stats have been good.”
At the RBC Heritage earlier this spring, Fowler switched drivers, changing from his Cobra OPTM X and into the Tour, low-loft Max K model that Gary Woodland used to win just a few weeks prior.
Now for the PGA Championship, Fowler’s back in the X head, but still using the UST Mamiya LIN-Q PowerCore White 6TX shaft, just a little bit shorter.
“Will he stay there? I’m not sure,” Schomin added. “Could we end up say at like 43 and 7.5 (of an inch). If it’s giving him the same feel of consistency through the bag, then I think we might end up just a touch longer. But if he likes where he is at, he’s confident where he is at, that’s really all that matters.”
If there’s more testing, though, just don’t tell his caddie.
What you need to know: As is customary for the Fairhaven-based company, Titleist officially announced today that its GTS drivers are headed to retail, following a successful tour release. The GTS2, GTS3, and GTS4 drivers will be available in golf shops June 11.
Since debuting at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, the new GTS lineup has quickly gained traction on the PGA Tour, with more than 50 players already making the switch to a GTS2, GTS3, or GTS4 driver. Among them are Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
Justin Thomas’ Titleist GTS2 driver (Greg Moore, GolfWRX)
According to Titleist, the GTS series builds upon the performance foundation established by the GT Series, while introducing several major technological advancements, including a new Split Mass Frame construction, refined aerodynamics, and an updated Speed Sync face design.
2026 Titleist GTS drivers: What’s new, key technology
Split Mass Frame and thermoform body
At the center of the new GTS lineup is a redesigned internal structure: the Split Mass Frame. This technology works with a full-thermoform body made from Titleist’s Proprietary Matrix Polymer (PMP), a lightweight composite that enables engineers to reposition mass more efficiently throughout the head. Compared to the previous GT generation, GTS drivers feature nearly double the PMP material, increasing from 13 grams to 26 grams, while maintaining the sound and feel preferred by better players.
The weight savings from the thermoform construction allowed Titleist engineers to strategically separate mass placement inside the head. Specifically, more weight is pushed rearward to improve stability and forgiveness, while additional mass is positioned low and forward to optimize speed, launch, and spin.
In short, golfers are able to maintain ball speed and consistency across both centered and off-center strikes.
Faster aerodynamics
Titleist also refined the aerodynamic shaping of the GTS heads to help players generate more clubhead speed.
The tails of the new GTS2 and GTS3 heads have been raised compared to previous models, helping airflow stay attached to the crown and sole longer during the swing. According to Titleist, the improved airflow reduces drag and increases speed without affecting launch conditions or center of gravity placement.
Typically, aerodynamic gains can compromise forgiveness or launch characteristics, but the weight savings from the Split Mass Frame allowed engineers to preserve preferred CG locations.
New Speed Sync face
The new Speed Sync Face design is engineered to improve ball speed retention across a larger portion of the face. A reinforced perimeter structure helps maximize face deflection and COR on centered strikes, while the upper portion of the support ring is opened up to increase speed on high-face impacts, a common strike location for many golfers. The face also features a variable thickness design to preserve speed and performance across a wider impact area.
Expanded adjustability
Each GTS model includes a dual-weighting system to fine-tune launch, spin, and shot shape more precisely than previous generations. GTS2 uses interchangeable forward and aft weights, while GTS3 and GTS4 combine a rear weight with an adjustable forward track weight system.
Tour-inspired face graphics
The new lineup features redesigned high-contrast face graphics to improve alignment and framing at address, according to Titleist. Sharp visual lines are designed to make it easier to center the golf ball and to perceive loft more easily at setup.
Additional model details
GTS2
- The GTS2 is the most forgiving model, designed for golfers seeking maximum stability and consistent speed across the face.
- It produces high launch with mid spin and features a larger, confidence-inspiring profile behind the ball.
- Standard weighting includes an 11-gram forward weight and a 5-gram rear weight, with additional fitting configurations available.
GTS3
- The GTS3 is aimed at players who want more control over launch, spin, and shot shaping.
- Compared to GTS2, the GTS3 offers lower launch and spin while featuring a more compact profile and deeper face design preferred by many stronger players.
- The head features an adjustable forward-track weight system to further fine-tune center of gravity placement.
GTS4
- The lowest-spinning option in the lineup, GTS4 is built for golfers looking to reduce excessive spin and maximize total distance.
- Unlike previous “4” models from Titleist, the new GTS4 features a full 460cc profile that improves forgiveness and stability while retaining its low-spin DNA.
- Like GTS3, it includes a forward track weighting system for precise fitting adjustments.
What Titleist says
“When we talk about driver design, it’s never about the one feature or benefit — it’s about all of them,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Titleist’s Senior Director of Metalwood R&D. “Ball speed, forgiveness, spin stability, adjustability, exceptional sound and feel… these are all attributes that golfers care about. It’s our job to design a lineup that elevates performance across the board without sacrificing in key areas, and we feel we’ve done that with GTS.”
“We know that forward CGs drive speed with great launch and spin characteristics, but you need to be able to do that with an inertial stability that still preserves ball speed, launch and spin consistency on off-center hits,” Luttrell said. “We’ve never before been able to hit these CG positions and inertia properties at the same time, and we’re achieving that because of GTS’ construction.”
Club Junkie’s take
I feel like every time there is a new Titleist wood release, I figure they can’t outdo their previous driver. And every year, I am wrong and impressed with the performance. The GTS fits right into that narrative again, as I didn’t know where Titleist could go from GT, but they pushed the limits again, and my fitting proved the smart people there found ways to improve.
My past four Titleist drivers have been a 2 series as my swing typically requires a little height, spin, and forgiveness so I figured I would just get a new GTS2 and be on my way. During the fitting, I was impressed by the new GTS construction, its added PMP material, and the advanced adjustability on each model. My fitter, Joey, got to work putting together a GTS2 and we started there. The launch and spin were great, and the consistency on misses was very tight. My average ball speed with the GTS went up a little bit as the new Speed Sync face creates more speed away from the center.
Joey then built up a GTS3 in 11 degrees, but I figured this wouldn’t have the stability I needed for tight dispersion on my miss hits. That thought was quickly erased after a few shots, and I really liked the more center start line and reduced draw on the misses I was seeing. We tried a few different settings and shafts to dial in the details in order to get the best fit. Having a forward and rear weight in the head allowed Joey to set up the GTS3 with a heavier rear weight to keep the launch and spin up, while the Sure Fit hosel set flat created a more center start line for me. My misses were not nearly as far left, and I was really impressed with the consistency on the spin and launch when I didn’t hit it in the center.
Titleist again created a wood line in GTS that delivers improvements over previous drivers while keeping the traditional look and feel you expect. More adjustability, better off-center speed, and 3 drivers that are playable over a wider range of players should make these extremely successful in fittings.
Pricing, specs, availability
GTS2 lofts: 8, 9, 10, 11 degrees (RH/LH)
GTS3 lofts: 8, 9, 10, 11 degrees (RH/LH)
GTS4 lofts: 8, 9, 10 (RH/LH)
Featured shafts
- Project X Titan Black
- Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White
- Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue
- Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Red
Premium shafts
- Graphite Design Tour AD DI
- Graphite Design Tour AD VF
- Graphite Design Tour AD FI
Available for fittings and pre-sale now.
In golf shops worldwide beginning June 11.
Price: $699 (standard), $899 (premium)
Titleist has today introduced its new GTS2 and GTS3 fairways.
Lower and deeper center of gravity (CG) positions, new adjustable heel-toe weights and advanced clubface innovations drive total performance in the two tour-proven models.
- Tour-inspired polished clubfaces: To help players see more of the clubface at address.
GTS2 Fairway
The new GTS2 fairway is designed with a shallower face and a larger profile than GTS3, ideal for players with more sweeping deliveries with their fairway metals.
GTS2’s new face height, inspired by tour feedback, was designed shallower than the prior generation GT2 model and more in line with the GT1 fairway. Each loft in GTS2 leverages a shallower profile except for the 13.5-degree, which maintains a slightly taller face.
With its new dual-weighting system, the ‘2’ model now has heel-toe CG adjustability.
Lofts: 13.5, 15.0, 16.5, 18.0, 21.0
Dual-weight system: 11-gram weight in heel, 5-gram weight in toe (standard)
GTS3 Fairway
The new GTS3 fairway is designed with a deeper face and a more compact profile, ideal for players who hit down on the golf ball more with their fairway metals.
New to the GTS3 family is a 21-degree offering, giving players two distinct profiles in Titleist’s 7-wood loft.
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Dave r
Sep 14, 2016 at 3:23 pm
money talks
Lef
Sep 14, 2016 at 9:58 am
What a dumb move. Chasing the $$$ and switching equipment when you’re at the top. I’ve worn those Nike hats and shoes. No feel whatsoever. And Lunarlon, are you kidding me! Give me Climacool any day. It’s worth at least 3 strokes a round.
Grizz01
Sep 14, 2016 at 11:25 am
You didn’t read the article. Day is not changing equipment. He is changing apparel. Adidas’ decision to sell its TaylorMade golf brand (the equipment), so they are no longer connected. He is just moving from Adidas clothing and footwear to Nike clothing and footwear. Getting 10million in the process.
As to the shoes. They will custom fit his shoes to his liking.
Phil Knight
Sep 14, 2016 at 12:09 pm
I think maybe you didn’t read his post, he was being facetious, lol
Lef
Sep 14, 2016 at 12:35 pm
I was 1) making fun of the high-end $200 a pair tour issue golf shoe racket with all it’s underwhelming tech, and 2) poking at all the 20 hdcp duffers who come out of the woodwork to chastise a pro when they switch equipment. Because, you know, these duffers can totally tell the difference in feel between Nikes and Titliest forged blades.
Poh's law is alive and well
Sep 15, 2016 at 1:16 am
It’s always a sad day when a good dose of sarcasm has to be explained. Oh dear me.
JThunder
Sep 15, 2016 at 4:00 am
No anonymous internet poster left behind.
Leftienige
Sep 14, 2016 at 9:21 am
If you believe that donations to “charities” ever get to the people in need , I’m afraid you’re sadly deluded . In most cases 99% goes to the administrators , the directors on HUGE salaries , and filters down through people working in charity shops , 1/2 of whom take all the best stuff home for next-to- nothing .
Sad but true , folks , 50 years experience speaking .
Al Czervik
Sep 14, 2016 at 3:52 pm
This is an absolutely true statement. Goodwill in Seattle has a headquarters on the waterfront in downtown Seattle- some of the highest priced real estate in the country. How would a non-profit be able to manage that?
Lift, Clean and Cheat
Sep 14, 2016 at 6:05 pm
Goodwill a non-profit? Better check that again. Best that can be said is that they do employ a lot of people with disabilities. You may also find salary structure and worker compensation another interesting topic.
JThunder
Sep 15, 2016 at 3:41 am
Greed isn’t limited to capitalism only – it’s just most widely encouraged there.
Mike Honcho
Sep 14, 2016 at 9:13 am
How will this effect his other endorsement deals, CONCUR, RBC and Lexis? Nike only allows the Swoosh head to toe in apparel deals.
Nath
Sep 14, 2016 at 3:00 am
TW has certainly got the world number 1 beat now ehehehehe
JThunder
Sep 14, 2016 at 12:25 am
Nike’s got to sell a LOT of hats to recoup $10 million. Tiger (supposedly) brought the big money to golf, but it didn’t do a lot of good for Nike’s clubs. I would think, all things considered, companies would start to scale way back their sponsorship money – if people are buying less stuff (since the middle class is flat broke with no hope of improvement) – then those contracts are worth less and less.
If all the companies dropped from $10 mil down to $1 mil, do you think tour players would turn it down and go logoless?
Maybe then they could pay the kids who make this crap $1 a day instead of 25¢.
Grizz01
Sep 14, 2016 at 11:27 am
10 million to Nike is just a drop in the bucket.
JThunder
Sep 15, 2016 at 3:56 am
Brilliant reply – so you’re saying Nike is a successful company by making investments that aren’t profitable, because $10mil is “just a drop in the bucket” to them? Right. So why did they continually cut their sales reps for golf equipment over recent years – surely those salaries were far smaller drops in your bucket, and every single one of them needed the income FAR more than Jason Day needs another $10 f-ing million. (For doing more work than wearing a hat.)
To put that in perspective, family man Jason’s $10 mil hat-wearing deal is the equivalent of 200 median family incomes in the USA. Nike factory workers make well under $100 per month.
If $10 mil is “just a drop in the bucket”, maybe someone should punch some holes in it, so we finally get the “trickle-down” the world’s been promised for so long.
Jason
Sep 14, 2016 at 12:05 am
Breaking news! Ellie Day was just taken to the emergency room. Apparently she just got a nasty paper cut from the check from Nike.
RedX
Sep 14, 2016 at 4:02 am
Jason do you think it is Day who pushes these happenings or the press hungry for a story (or non story in many cases). The guy just comes across as being honest in responding to questions put to him but the press over reporting every trivial occurrence is painting a picture other than the nature of the man.
Ps – Very much doubt a paper cheque is involved so Ellie should be fine. Maybe RSI logging onto an internet banking platform to check the bank balance incessantly?
Jason
Sep 14, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Bet you’re a hit at parties….
Jengus
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Haha!
Tina
Sep 13, 2016 at 4:48 pm
Onto the next conspiracy theory … Nike buys TM!
Judge mental
Sep 14, 2016 at 10:49 am
Nike not making golf clubs any more,
Taylormade selling a golf club company .
If you can’t beat the competition,just buy it.
Simple ????????
Grizz01
Sep 14, 2016 at 11:28 am
It is believed that Nike really doesn’t make thier clubs anyway. They were a different manufacturer that ‘stamped’ Nike on to the clubs.
JThunder
Sep 15, 2016 at 4:04 am
None of these companies “makes their own clubs”. They’re run by folks in suits in the US, built by kids in factories in Asia. I doubt the CEO of any of them could re-grip a 7 iron. And they sure wouldn’t do it for the wages they’re paying!
If we wish really hard, maybe these buyouts can leave us with just one giant OEM. Then they can jack the prices up 3000% like the drug companies!
Pingback: Jason Day Reportedly Signs Shoe And Apparel Deal With Nike Golf, Brings adidas Yeezys With Him | Sneaker Kat
Sam
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:57 am
WOW!! This is going to be exciting to see how many players Nike will be signing to wear their apparel.
Jimmy Banks
Sep 13, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Confusing with Nike clothes and TM clubs…don’t like it.
Sam
Sep 13, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Agree. But TM players have always been a bit confusing, as they probably play the most mixed bags on tour. They play whatever they want essentially, but they just have to use the bag (mostly) and put on a few head covers. So this will just only add more to the confusion.
$80shirts are now $90
Sep 13, 2016 at 4:25 pm
what on earth are you talking about? seriously
JD
Sep 13, 2016 at 6:29 pm
I think you meant to say they have the most flexibility in their contracts unlike a Ping or some of the others. The one stipulation in all TM contracts is the Driver. but a lot of players use SC putters or the ProV1 for example. The more TM gear the more money you can potentially earn.
Teaj
Sep 14, 2016 at 8:43 am
So you do realize that there are different types of sponsorship’s in golf, I hope. The amount of money paid out to the contractor (PGA Pro) is based on what they are putting in their bags, how they perform. There are basic hat and bag deals all the way to full sponsorship’s such as Jason Days current deal. You will find that some players such as DJ and others have a 13 club deal which allows him to game a Scotty Cameron along with the clothing, hat, bag and balls. Also with what was mentioned in the write up was that Adidas is selling Taylormade which leaves Taylormade players available for apparel deals once their contracts are up with Adidas. Anyways I hope Days back is not a series issue and if it is that he take the time to take care of it as we do not need another great golfer leave the game to soon.
rich tran
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:49 am
awesome deal, great clubs to play with and nice swagger clothes to wear
BoomCannon
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:49 am
The rumors…were true. A win for the WRX conspiracy theorists!
desmond
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:47 am
I’m certain his charitable foundation will do great things… with a lot of that money. Although it will look odd at first with Nike Apparel and TM Equipment. We’ll get accustomed to it. Rory and Tiger are next….
fc
Sep 13, 2016 at 11:27 am
Not when he’s getting $10 million just to wear clothing. Why not just give like $9 million of that to charity. It’s not like he needs that much money. Faak the charities if they let players make this much money
leon
Sep 13, 2016 at 1:33 pm
The charity is just a “format” of avoiding the tax. The charities across the states are more like investment companies that only 3% of the money donated will pass to the people who really needs it. All the remaining are used for making investments in all sorts of forms.
Spy
Sep 13, 2016 at 7:09 pm
That’s so sad to hear, leon
Jafar
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:29 am
First to comment….
Michael
Sep 13, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Yet last on the list. Congrats.
Forsbrand
Sep 13, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha that has made my day!!!!