Mickelson Drops Titleist, Signs with Callaway
Posted September 7th, 2004 by Guest Author
Over the Labor Day weekend, Phil Mickelson signed an endorsement deal with Callaway Golf, dumping Titleist early.
Over the Labor Day weekend, Phil Mickelson, the #4 ranked golfer in the world, signed an endorsement deal with Callaway Golf to use a prototype Callaway HX ball and a prototype model of Callaway's Fusion driver at this week's Canadian Bell Open.
This move comes just a week after prematurely dumping a Titleist contract. Mickelson had been with Titleist the past four years.
According to various reports, the Fusion driver, the HX ball and the current versions of the Big Bertha 3- and 4-woods will be the only Callaway items in the bag this week for Mickelson though he will be wearing Callaway footwear and gloves. Irons, wedges and a putter will be determined at a later date after consultation with Callaway club designer Roger Cleveland, the man behind Cleveland wedges, a must-have for many tour players.
Because of a deal already in place for logo placement on the front of Mickelson's visor with consulting firm Bearing Point, the Callaway logo will instead adorn Mickelson's shirt sleeve, the side of his visor, and his golf bag. This is a slight variation from the triple play of bag-hat-shirt logo placement that accompanies most manufacturer-player relationships.
After renegotiation attempts with Titleist failed, Mickelson was let out of his deal 16 months early. According to an AP report, Phil took some heat from Titleist last fall regarding a phone call to a Callaway representative who had helped his brother with some equipment. Mickelson praised Callaway for its golf ball and driver, and Callaway officials were said to have played the voice mail for its salesmen at a national meeting.
Specifics of the Callaway contract are unknown at this point, but $4 million per year including incentives is rumoured with the deal exceeding five years.
Feedback
We'd love to hear from you! Comment below or join the forum.
Expressed opinions are not necessarily the opinions shared by others on The Sand Trap or The Sand Trap itself.
Posted 24 Nov 2004 at 7:06pm #
Phil Mickelson misses a six-footer for 58, taps in for 59, and wins the 2004 Grand Slam of Golf.
Posted 11 Feb 2005 at 12:01am #
David Duval shoots +13 and Phil Mickelson shoots -10. Just another day on the PGA Tour, eh?
Posted 14 Feb 2005 at 1:42am #
After three days of torrid scoring, Phil Mickelson coasted to become the first wire-to-wire winner at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Posted 05 Mar 2005 at 7:25am #
With so many players capable of going low, this weekend's Ford Championship at Doral promises to be a tight race
Posted 30 Oct 2005 at 8:54am #
Phil Mickelson chooses to stay home for next week's Tour Championship.
Posted 26 Jan 2008 at 2:43pm #
This is like so yesterday.
What's the update?
Phil has Calloway on his cap/visor Saturday at the 2008 Buick Invitational.
Posted 27 Jan 2008 at 3:26pm #
I believe that Bearingpoint has had to cancel Phil's contract with them due to their significantly poor financial health. Rumor has it Phil is suing BE - good luck!
Posted 27 Jan 2008 at 7:30pm #
I am an employee of BearingPoint so here is what is what it is. The company is in financial trouble, and the CEO was let go in December. he was a good friend of Mickelson. The new CEO does not want to pay out the money it would cost to keep Phil. so Phil is suing to get out of his contract so he can go with another company, and so while this is getting worked out, he is wearing the Callaway Hat temporarily.
Posted 27 Jan 2008 at 9:09pm #
BearingPoint is such a lame name they deserve to get whomped upside the head for changing to that from the famous KPMG. Uhm, that's the real reason for their problems, is that not right?
Phil musta groaned everytime he put that hat on. I did.
Thanks guys
Brian
Posted 28 Jan 2008 at 10:05am #
Actually Phil is suing because he got a verbal agreement for a new contract with the old CEO. he kept and will continue to wear the BearingPoint cap (so he said on 1/14), he is suing to get paid for wearing it even though he did it without a formal contract in place. The contract was supposed to be signed in late december but the old ceo got ousted before then. the new management group obviously would want to renegotiate whatever deal was done especially since it iwas not in writing. That is the deal. so whomever you are who says you work for bearingpoint get your facts right. here is a link to the real story
www dot thegolfwatch.com/my_weblog/2008/01/mickelson-sues.html
Posted 28 Jan 2008 at 5:45pm #
Kitibo is a real embarassment to BearingPoint!
I find it hard to believe that anyone would want to be represented by Mickelson after he demonstrates the audacity to use blackmail tactics and bring far worse press to their sponsor with a lawsuit, than any positive advertisement he gave.
I also heard that he 'hated' the new BE logo because its red (like Tiger's sponsor Accenture). Boo hoo.
Posted 28 Jan 2008 at 5:55pm #
So how am I an embarrassment to bearingpoint, unless you are my boss, and you know who I am
Trust me, the Board of Directors and the new CEO do not want to be tied to him. It is true that the red visor is an issue with him