Equipment
Justin Rose signs multi-year deal with Honma
One of the worst-kept secrets in the golf equipment world is no longer secret: world No. 2 Justin Rose is officially a Honma staffer.
The Japanese premium equipment company announced the signing in a press release today.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining Honma,” said Rose, in the press release. “Coming off one of my best years professionally, I wanted to make it a point to get better. I believe Honma equipment and the legendary Honma craftsmanship can help make me better.”
Rose had previously played a full TaylorMade bag for the past 20 years.
Former TaylorMade CEO Mark King joined Honma as a strategic advisor late in 2018. Many expected he’d be tasked with helping the brand make a larger splash in the European and American markets, the financial resources of new company owner, Chinese billionaire Liu Jianguo, behind him.
Honma has never had a male player ranked inside the top 150 under contract. On the women’s side, however, top players So Yeon Ryu and Shan-Shan Feng play the company’s wares.
Golf Digest’s Mike Stachura quoted Honma spokesman John Kawaja as saying Rose is under contract to play 10 Honma clubs.
Per Stachura
“That group is expected to include the T//World TW747 driver; a prototype version of the forged cavity back T//World TW747 V in the 4- through 6-iron; and a prototype T//World 747 “Justin Rose” forged muscleback iron in the 7-iron through 9-iron. Rose also is expected to play custom prototype versions of the T//World TW forged wedges (47, 56 and 60 degrees).”
Rose’s bag will feature a Honma logo, as will both sides of his hat.
For his part, Rose announced the news with the tweet below.
Hello 2019…. I’ve been waiting for you! Excited to move into the new year with Honma equipment! New Years resolutions…. 1) play a club that looks exactly how I want! ? 2) play a club that feels and performs exactly how I want! ? #Team???? pic.twitter.com/GLgK7N46Eb
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) January 1, 2019
The Englishman is expected to begin his year at the CareerBuilder Challenge, January 17.
And per Rose’s caddie on Twitter, here’s a look at the full bag, including what appears to be an Axis1 putter.
You can only speak as you find …. @HONMAGOLFUSA make the most beautiful golf clubs … will be proud to carry this bag for the boss @JustinRose99 in 2019 … #Team???? pic.twitter.com/ZXWUNQWz3v
— Dick fulchers lad (@Fooch1993) January 2, 2019
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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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...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
GD
Jan 1, 2019 at 2:05 pm
Is he going to use Honma balls or TM balls. Certainly not Titleist.
But if he uses Honma balls he’s definitely finished. Honma just doesn’t have the patents to make as good a ball as the others.
He should’ve signed with Bridgestone or Srixon.
Who cares if Mark King had a hand in the deal. Those times were over a long time ago. Poor sucker Chinese billionaire. That guy should’ve bought TM instead of fiddling with Honma
ogo
Jan 1, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Rich Asians apishly follow European and American values just to show they are hipsters too. Most are short and weak and golf is a challenge for them, nevertheless they want to imitate Western values. Their mentality is not to play golf well, it’s to own the most expensive equipment because “you are what you own”… similar to our gearheads.
pharmdog98
Jan 1, 2019 at 4:41 pm
most are short and golf is challenge for them? lol. go to hell bro. dumb ass