Signing day for golfers
 |
| You won't be seeing anything but a Nike swoosh on Nick Watney from now on. (GettyImages) |
January 1 is like national signing day for golfers and their new sponsors. Numerous companies are calling roll on their new signees over the next few weeks culminating with a not-so-subtle announcement by Nike in Abu Dabhi on January 14...
Nike spokesperson confirms news conference Jan 14 for "major" announcement in Abu Dhabi. #RoryMcIlroy
— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) January 1, 2013
Here's a running list of who we know has signed on with new sponsors for the 2013 season (and who they left in parentheses):
TaylorMade
Lucas Glover (Nike)
Ryan Moore (Adams)
Stewart Cink (Nike) - pic of new bag here.
Happy New Year to all! lockerz.com/s/273681323
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) January 1, 2013
Callaway
Source tells me @callawaygolf will announce the signing of Gary Woodland to its staff before the end of the week.
— Rick Young (@RickSCOREGolf) January 1, 2013
Nike
Kyle Stanley (Titleist)
Nick Watney (Titleist)
Welcome to #TeamNike Nick Watneytwitpic.com/brl4wo
— Nike Golf (@nikegolf) January 1, 2013
Oakley
Bubba Watson (Travis Mathew)
Travis Mathew release Dec. 31 2012 twitter.com/TRAVISMATHEW/s…
— Travis Mathew(@TRAVISMATHEW) December 31, 2012
Zach Johnson (Iliac)
RBC
Graeme McDowell (not for clubs...obviously)
Expect to see Graeme McDowell at the RBC Canadian Open for the forseeable future....former US Open champ has joined Team RBC. #niceget
— Rick Young (@RickSCOREGolf) January 1, 2013
Excited to be part of the @rbc_golf family. Doing great things in golf globally. Adding RBC Heritage and RBC Candian Open to my 2013 sched
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) January 1, 2013
One of the most interesting things was watching these announcements roll in from the players themselves on Twitter.
Gone are the days of formal PR announcements and press conferences. All Bubba has to do is hit "send" to his 800,000 followers and the news spreads like wildfire.
I'm most shocked by the Stewart Cink move since he still had a year on his Nike contract. And I'm most intrigued to find out who the other two new Nike members are (besides McIlroy, Watney, and Stanley):
Well we know who's in the middle….. RT @nikegolf: The next chapter starts 1.1.2013. We believe. #TeamNike twitter.com/nikegolf/statu…
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) January 1, 2013
