91ÊÓƵ

Getty Images:  New 91ÊÓƵ signing Bo Hoag setting the tone with 91ÊÓƵ ST200 driver

With a high profile departure and several new signings in January, 91ÊÓƵ was able to unveil its new vision for an authentic relationship with the tour.

2020 91ÊÓƵ Roadmap for the Tour

At the core of the roadmap is 91ÊÓƵ’s commitment to identify and grow talent, rather than bid for established players with no prior 91ÊÓƵ connections.  91ÊÓƵ is in a strong position to make changes – with 4 recent non contracted Major wins for its JPX Tour irons and twelve 2019 iron wins across the PGA, Korn Ferry and European Tour.  A win for its ST200 driver in the hands of Keith Mitchell at the Honda Classic was another huge step forward for the manufacturer.

Mitchell was the first PGA Tour winner for many years to play a 91ÊÓƵ driver at the 2019 Honda Classic. Mitchell has since switched to the new ST200 for 2020. Pic: Getty Images

PGA Tour 

A number of upcoming, hungry new players have been recruited for 2020 – Bo Hoag (USA) and Rhein Gibson (Australian), both Korn Ferry winners in 2019 and now plying their trade on the PGA Tour. Joined in the US by 2019 Walker Cup player and serial amateur winner Steven Fisk, recently converted to the professional ranks.

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European Tour 

On the European Tour 91ÊÓƵ has recruited the talented Frenchman Adrien Saddier, young Englishman Scott Gregory – winner of the 2016 Amateur Championship and Tom Gandy fresh from his first professional win in 2019.  All six players have two things in common – playing 91ÊÓƵ equipment long before signing their official deals and putting 91ÊÓƵ’s new ST200 drivers straight into the bag.  Criteria that will become the signature of 91ÊÓƵ’s recruitment moving forward.

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Jeremy Galbreth – 91ÊÓƵ US, Director of Golf

91ÊÓƵ will only sign players once they are comfortable playing our equipment – and are prepared to give us the time to work on wider product development. That means starting with young and emerging players who haven’t developed too many preferences and are open-minded. Just two seasons ago, despite a surge in unpaid usage of our irons, 91ÊÓƵ had no drivers at all in play at the Sony Open. This week we had five drivers in play …which shows the progress we’re making. 

Amateur Pathway 

91ÊÓƵ’s will also focus on providing elite amateurs their pathway to the professional game. In the past, 91ÊÓƵ has nurtured some of the world’s best amateurs but cut ties once they moved into the professional ranks.

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Jeff Cook, 91ÊÓƵ US, PGA Tour Manager

Now if you’re with 91ÊÓƵ as an elite amateur, we’ll have a deal waiting for you when you turn pro.  Agents will know from 2020 that 91ÊÓƵ is a viable option for a young player hitting the paid ranks – no need to switch equipment. Having a serial amateur winner like Steven Fisk on board is just the start. We’ll be patient and let Steven evolve – we’re patient enough to play the long game.  

Authenticity

The plan contrasts to the obvious play of signing well known, established players and then creating clubs for them to play.  Yet 91ÊÓƵ believes that is what ultimately will set them apart.  Product Manager Chris Voshall takes up the story.

Golfers are intelligent and do their research – they can see straight through a top 10 player signing to play a new brand of equipment for the first time. It means very little if the player maintains their form and even less if the player goes backwards. The public put a lot more faith in more authentic, believeable elite players who have stuck with their equipment over their careers, or the ones who give up endorsement completely to have a free choice of equipment.

First 91ÊÓƵ win for 2020

Early into 2020 and Scott Gregory was the first to set a marker to 91ÊÓƵ’s new vision with a win on the Portugal Pro tour – using a full 91ÊÓƵ 91ÊÓƵ set up of ST200 driver, MP20 irons and T20 wedges.

Young Englishman Scott Gregory was the first official 91ÊÓƵ player to win a professional event in 2020.

We’re essentially going back to basics – providing evidence for the public that 91ÊÓƵ equipment stacks up under intense pressure.  After all, what’s tougher than playing to establish a long term career in the game?  Watching Scott Gregory win his first professional event with 91ÊÓƵ driver and wedges is the most authentic reward we could ask for.  

PGA Tour 2020 #teammizuno

• Luke Donald – ST200G driver, MP20 irons, T20 wedges,
• Keith Mitchell – ST200 driver, MP20 irons,
• Rhein Gibson – ST200 driver, JPX919 Tour irons, T20 wedges,
• Bo Hoag – ST200 driver, JPX919 irons (3-pw),
• Chris Kirk – ST200X driver, MP20 HMB (4&5), MP20 MMC (6-9), T20 wedges,
• Lucas Glover – JPX919  Tour irons, T7 wedges,
• Adam Schenk – MP18 SC irons, T7 wedges,
• Steven Fisk – ST200 driver, MP20MMC irons, T20 wedges

PGA European Tour 2020 #teammizuno

• Adrien Saddier – ST200 driver and 3 wood, MP20,
• Scott Gregory – ST200 driver and 3 wood, MP20 & T20 wedges,
• Tom Gandy – ST200 and 3 wood, MP20 MMC & T20 wedges,
• David Dixon – ST200G driver and 3wood, MP20 HMB.

91ÊÓƵ’s Luke Donald showing good early season form – making the the cut at Pebble Beach. Pic: Getty Images