Jon Rahm officially started his relationship with $1.428B giant Callaway in 2021 and solidified their relationship with a win at the 2021 U.S. Open. Therefore, it came as no surprise when, in March of this season, Callaway officially announced its partnership with Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf team, Legion XIII. This partnership also marked the first time a major golf equipment brand signed with LIV Golf, representing a significant milestone in the sport. However, according to Bryson DeChambeau, Crushers GC are the trendsetters in LIV Golf in this regard, thanks to a last year deal announcement with a major brand.

Bryson DeChambeau’s claim came from a video update on LIV Golf’s YouTube channel, looking back at the 2024-2025 offseason moments in LIV Golf. The voiceover discusses Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, who announced their partnership with Reebok on their social media. At the time of the interview, DeChambeau was participating in the made-for-TV golf event, Showdown, alongside fellow LIV golfer Brooks Koepka and PGA Tour players Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.

On his way to the course for the Showdown match, DeChambeau talks about his team and their recent accomplishments. “Honestly, we’ve been doing a lot of business. Trying to structure and set stuff up for the future. Obviously doing some business deals. Reebok. Super awesome for the Crushers. It’s the first big domino to fall, I feel like. Yeah, there’s been other sponsors with other teams. This one’s a big deal.”

The apparel brand announced a multi-year deal with Crushers GC in 2024. The announcement designated the company as the “official apparel and footwear sponsor” of DeChambeau and the team. This season, in March, Bryson DeChambeau was featured as the official face of the brand’s apparel and footwear options, including Reebok’s new golf shoe, the Nano Golf. However, LIV Golf teams attracted many more sponsors during the 2024 season.

For instance, in January 2024, Nike decided to extend its nine-year sponsorship of Brooks Koepka to his team, Smash GC. Shortly thereafter, Nike announced that they would be the shoe sponsor of the LIV Golf team. Similarly, Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces announced Magellan Jets as their official air travel partners in July 2024. Additionally, DeChambeau’s vision of “growing golf by bringing others in” has seen success with another LIV Golf team’s partnership with a major brand.

PING announces multi-year partnership with Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC

PING has signed on to sponsor Torque GC, one of the most successful and dynamic teams in LIV Golf. This partnership, which will kick off at LIV Golf Mexico City, underscores PING’s strong commitment to supporting an all-Latin American roster that includes Joaquín Niemann, Mito Pereira, Sebastián Muñoz, and Carlos Ortiz. Each of these players has a long-standing relationship with PING, having grown up using its equipment and continuing to rely on the brand throughout their professional careers. Interestingly, Joaquin Niemann registered a win at the 2024 Saudi International while using PING’s latest G440 driver, becoming the first golfer to do so using the PING G440 driver.

Thanks to the team’s history with the brand, PING will have a prominent presence during Torque GC’s events. Joaquin Niemann’s team will use not only all the PING setups for each golfer but also the brand’s headwear and staff bags. This collaboration exemplifies how an equipment company can be fully integrated into a team’s visual identity and on-course presence. Furthermore, this marks the second time an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has partnered with a LIV Golf team.

While there may be debate over whether Crushers GC initiated this trend, it is undeniable that LIV Golf teams are enjoying significant success with their recent partnerships and sponsorships. What are your thoughts on Bryson DeChambeau’s claims? Will you be watching the golfer tee off in Mexico City wearing sponsored apparel? Let us know in the comment section!