News
TaylorMade to skip 2019 PGA Merchandise Show
The 2019 PGA Merchandise Show will be missing a very familiar face, as TaylorMade has announced that it will not be involved in the annual event. The news will come as a disappointment to many, as TaylorMade had previously created much buzz at the show, often showcasing their new product line with an elaborate exhibition each January at the event. At the 2017 PGAM Show, TaylorMade announced the news that Tiger Woods had signed with TaylorMade.
According to TaylorMade’s CEO, David Abeles, the decision to skip the event next year is due to ongoing investment into growth initiatives that will add value to the game of golf.
“After conversations with TaylorMade Professional Staff members and key leaders within the golf industry, we will be investing into growth initiatives that we believe will create even greater value for the game of golf. As a result of our additional spend, we have decided not to attend the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show.”
Abeles stated how TaylorMade’s lack of involvement in the show based in Orlando will present the opportunity for TaylorMade to invest in the “support of PGA Professionals across the country,” while also acknowledging how the news of TaylorMade’s lack of participation in the PGA show would come as a blow to many.
“While this may be disappointing to some, we hope that you appreciate our excitement to expand our partnership in new ways.”
Not since Acushnet (Titleist, FootJoy) decided to skip the event from 2004-2008 has the PGA Merchandise Show lost such a big name.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Bert Gwaltney
Nov 29, 2018 at 7:13 pm
I remember when Pig said, no thanks, didn’t hurt them at all.
DaveyD
Nov 11, 2018 at 11:51 am
Not really news. They gotta do what they gotta do.
Rich Douglas
Nov 10, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I smell bankruptcy.
Read
Nov 7, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Maybe they can use some of that “saved money” to run a show on the Golf Channel and let some amateur hacks design a driver for them…OR HAS THAT BEEN DONE?
RT
Nov 6, 2018 at 7:51 pm
That is maybe because —- Lack of something that’s really new and different or lack of funding ,or paying out too much for players ???? Either way it doesn’t matter I don’t play their product..
B. Ferguson
Oct 27, 2018 at 8:18 pm
As an Adams fan, pardon my alligator tears . . .
Golf Golf Golf
Oct 25, 2018 at 6:28 am
The show would be time wasted for TM to come out with 5 new models of irons in that week.
bob carroll
Oct 24, 2018 at 10:35 pm
the show originally was for new product that was introduced at the show. before the internet, you had to go to the show to see all the new stuff. it was also a great vacation for the northern pro’s. go to the show, play golf in warm weather and write it all off. now there really is no reason to go unless you live up north.
Garry Pierce
Oct 24, 2018 at 2:55 pm
My experience as a retailer.. Oct is when new products were released and I had the stuff in stock already. By the end of Jan. The “new line” was already 60 days into what I call the 180 main sales period. After that the wow factor is gone. The PGA Show was a “work” vacation I could right off. Half day st the show, 5 days of golf
rymail00
Oct 24, 2018 at 3:38 am
Maybe they are realizing that all $$$ going into the PGA Show just isn’t worth the cost? With social media now a few “leaked pics” on twitter, Instagram etc. Stirs up as much buzz as or even more than stock PGA Show pics. At the show you hear everything about a club, but slow leaks makes people keep checking back in for a just a tiny bit of more details, and again it’s basically free.
Honestly like 5-6 years ago I was so amped for the PGA Show photos etc. but every year that pasts it’s just less and less interesting IMHO.
I’m curious if this will maybe make other large OEM’S start to reconsider spending all this cash that can be done over the internet for free with “leaked pics from pros etc.”
I dont know, just a thought.
Brad
Oct 23, 2018 at 10:37 pm
In other words, money is too tight at TaylorMade for them to attend the show. Given how many pros they are paying on the PGA to play their clubs, and that Adidas offloaded TM last year because of how that business was a drag on their bottom line – this is no big surprise.
The only thing that would surprise me is if TM is NOT bankrupt or put on the block again (for an even lower price) within the next 3-4 years.
Robb
Oct 24, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Their business model has changed significantly since they were acquired last October. If they are sold again it will be for a profit not due to bankruptcy I promise that.
Joseph A Smith
Nov 11, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I see that you think the brand will tank. I disagree. There are a lot of smart people who work there. The PGA show literally costs TM MILLIONS (Plural). All I know is that I wish I had $425 million laying around- I would have jumped at that price. KPS will make them mean and lean and then flip them for double that in 4-6 years. Arguably the strongest tour staff (DJ, Rory, Day, Rahm, Rose (For the time being) and of course TW). They went big with the needle movers and cut back on sponsoring the 237th best player in the world. You know why? Nobody cares what driver that guy is playing. Callaway is top dog right now. That will change. If I were a betting man- Honma is the next brand to take off. Have a good night!
Tom
Oct 23, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Are they going to use the money they are saving by skipping the Show to invest in and promote 10″ diameter cups like a former TM CEO was suggesting to grow the game? hahahaha!
Tom
Oct 23, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Uh Oh, guess we now know how TM’s sales went this year.
WITB Enthusiast
Oct 23, 2018 at 9:06 am
I actually like the thoughts…. “invest in the support of PGA Professionals across the country,” and “the decision to skip the event next year is due to ongoing investment into growth initiatives that will add value to the game of golf.” However, I will just say I’m VERY INTERESTED to see if this investment and growth initiative really add value. Will Taylor Made be putting all of those dollars to work or just saving them. That’s ok too…. maybe just not fully wanting to say they are trying to save money.
Scott
Oct 23, 2018 at 1:00 am
there is a mutual benefit to TM and the club professionals selling the kit to attend the show. This is very shortsighted CFO bean-counting management.
MAPA
Oct 22, 2018 at 10:30 pm
{{{{{{{ OMFG }}}}}}