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Justin Rose splits with Honma Golf, ends golf club endorsement deal

Justin Rose and Honma Golf have ended their partnership which has existed since January 2019.

Honma Golf and Justin Rose have parted ways, the Japanese club maker announced Friday afternoon. Rose signed an endorsement deal with Honma in January 2019 to become the company’s first PGA Tour staff player.

Rose was a TaylorMade endorser before joining Honma in 2019. Despite still being signed with Honma at the time, he used a TaylorMade SIM driver at the Honda Classic in February. He then used a set of TaylorMade P730 irons and sampled wedges from several manufacturers at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March before the PGA Tour came to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic.

There’s no word yet if Rose is working on a deal with another company as the PGA Tour prepares to resume play in June.

Justin Rose's TaylorMade irons — Justin Rose’s TaylorMade irons Wednesday at Bay Hill during the Arnold Palmer Invitational (David Dusek/Golfweek)

“For over a year, Justin worked closely with our team to help develop innovative and top-performing lines of Honma woods and irons,” John Kawaja, president of Honma Golf North America, said in a news release. “His pursuit of perfection, approach to product testing and feedback has produced great value to Honma. Justin’s expert input and desire for maximum ball speed inspired our team to make the Honma TR20 460 and 440 drivers among the fastest drivers in the game. Consistently, and excitingly, our nationwide team of fitters are seeing the new TR20 460 and TR20 440 drivers produce some of the fastest speeds on the market. We wish him the very best in his pursuit of more majors and career success.

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Rose is a 10-time winner on the PGA Tour, with his most-recent victory at the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open. He also has seven European Tour wins, has competed in five Ryder Cups and reached No. 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2018. He is currently No. 14 in world.

“I have enjoyed working with the Honma team and collaborating closely with them to design and develop excellent golf equipment,” Rose said in the news release. “I was able to see firsthand the innovations that the craftsmen at Honma bring to their clubs. I am hopeful that during our time of partnership, we have laid the groundwork for Honma to continue to expand their brand. We both feel it is the right time to pursue our own paths.”

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Adidas, Honma, Titleist and FootJoy supporting COVID-19 charities

Some of golf’s biggest brands are pitching in to raise money, letting you do something good while scoring great gear.

Charity events and fundraisers are taking place around the world to help doctors, nurses and first responders who are battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are also working hard to help people who have been laid off or furloughed get food and other necessities. Several golf brands are stepping up and helping too. Here’s how you can get involved, help maybe score some cool gear.

Acushnet (FootJoy, Titleist)
On Thursday morning, Acushnet announced that it is auctioning 12 “experiences” to the highest bidder, with all the proceeds raised being donated to CDP COVID-19 Response Fund; the United Way chapters of Greater New Bedford and San Diego County ( most Titleist and FootJoy employees live and work) and the Golf Emergency Relief Fund.

Among the items up for bid are rounds of golf with Webb Simpson and Ian Poulter, as well as a round of golf with Justin Thomas and with a lesson from his father, PGA of America pro Mike Thomas. Golfers can also try to win lessons from Butch Harmon, Peter Kostis, Michael Breed, James Sieckmann, Brad Faxon and Jordan’s Spieth coach, Cameron McCormick. Bob Vokey has donated a wedge fitting and Scotty Cameron has also donated a putter fitting, while Jim Nantz is offering a Pebble Beach experience to the highest bidder.

The week-long online auction is open now at chipin.ralleyup.com/charitygolfauction and closes April 30 at 9 p.m. EDT.

Adidas
The maker of golf apparel and footwefar for stars like Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Paula Creamer and Xander Schaufelle is donating $2 to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for every purchase of $20 or more on the Adidas smartphone app and at adidas.com.

Honma
The Japanese club maker known for high-end woods and irons has started two fundraisers.

The Pick Up Your Pro charity promotion encourages golfers to donate either $10, $25, $50 or $100 for a chance to win one of eight different prizes. The items available include a Honma gear package ($10), a pre-release set of custom TW4 wedges ($25), a Honma mobile fitting experience ($50) and a TR20 package that includes new drivers, irons and wedges ($100).

Honma’s goal is to raise $50,000 for the PGA of America’s Golf Emergency Relief Fund and all of the promotions are running now through May 15. The drawings will be held May 20 and youy can learn more at https://honmagolf.rallyup.com.

In addition, Honma is donating 10 percent of all the proceeds from sales at honma.com to Golf Emergency Relief Fund until May 30.

As John Kawaja, Honma’s president said in a release, “Even simple gestures can have a significant impact during this crisis, so we appreciate every bit of support golfers can lend to the folks who make this industry special.”

Justin Rose uses TaylorMade irons at Bay Hill

A week after using a new TaylorMade SIM driver at the Honda Classic, it appears that Justin Rose is making more equipment changes.

ORLANDO – A week after using a new TaylorMade SIM driver at the Honda Classic, Justin Rose is making more equipment changes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Rose, the winner of the 2018 FedEx Cup, had used a prototype set of Honma TR20 irons earlier this season, but there was a new set of TaylorMade P730 irons in his bag Wednesday for the pro-am at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge and again in Thursday’s first round of the tournament. He also had wedges from TaylorMade, Titleist and Wilson in the bag Wednesday.

In January 2019, Rose signed an endorsement deal with Honma, becoming the Japanese company’s first PGA Tour staff player. Honma did not return Golfweek’s requests for information on Rose’s current status with the company. Rose had used TaylorMade equipment before joining Honma last year.

Rose hasn’t had a great start to 2020. In three events, he missed two cuts and had a best finish of T-56 at the Genesis Invitational.