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 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.
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.