When professional golfers switch equipment, it often creates ripples across the golf community. Sometimes, these ripples can turn into waves, especially when the golfer is high profile and the partnership challenges conventional norms in the sport. Such reactions range from supportive to downright hostile as players discover when venturing beyond golf’s traditional boundaries. And now too, the bear has been poked.

That furor is exactly what Jon Rahm and his LIV Golf team, Legion XIII, is witnessing after announcing a landmark partnership with Callaway Golf. The Spanish major champion enthusiastically shared the news on his X handle with a simple but excited “Vamos!!” in response to Legion XIII’s announcement of their “exciting partnership with @CallawayGolf.“

The deal marks a significant milestone as the first major equipment manufacturer partnership in LIV Golf’s history. While financial specifics remain confidential, industry analysts estimate the agreement to be worth approximately $10 million annually, including performance incentives and long-term equity components. And the agreement terms are sweet!

Under the partnership, Callaway becomes the official equipment provider for Rahm’s Legion XIII team, supplying clubs, balls, apparel, and putters. The arrangement includes brand ambassadorship roles for Rahm and select teammates. The Callaway logo is now prominently displayed on Rahm’s hat during tournaments, replacing Legion XIII’s old branding.

Teammates Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin, both already Callaway staffers, will also display the logo, while Tyrrell Hatton maintains his existing PING affiliation. For 2025, Rahm’s bag features Callaway’s latest gear, including the Elyte Triple Diamond Driver, Apex TCB Irons, Chrome Tour X Ball, and Odyssey Ai-One putter.

The two-time major winner, who has used Callaway equipment for his biggest victories, including his 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, 2023 Masters at Augusta National, and 2023 American Express at La Quinta while he played on the PGA Tour, called the deal a “tremendous boost” for his team’s competitive edge. This partnership underscores the $4.5 billion revenue giant’s strategy to align with top players regardless of which tour they compete on. But despite the business significance of this partnership, the announcement was met with a decidedly mixed response from golf fans across social media platforms.

Top Comment by Timog

Who cares there is plenty of excitement on pga tour and only a small handful of LIV deserve to be...more

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Fans react with mockery and criticism to Rahm’s announcement

The announcement triggered immediate backlash from golf fans, with many taking to social media to express their disapproval. The negative comments on Rahm’s post revealed lingering resentment toward players who joined the Saudi-backed league.

One particularly harsh comment labeled Rahm a “Saudi sell out,” directly attacking his decision to join LIV Golf in December 2023 for a reported $300 million deal that sparked significant controversy among loyal PGA Tour fans who felt betrayed by his departure. Others expressed outright contempt for the Spanish star with comments like “You’re a disgrace” and “Who are you again? Go away nobody cares…LIV is a joke,” reflecting the disappointment many traditional golf fans felt when one of the PGA Tour’s most passionate defenders switched sides, despite his continued status as a Top-10 world-ranked player.

Some fans expressed nostalgia for Rahm’s PGA Tour days with pointed remarks such as “Vamos to the PGA tour” and “Would love to see you again on the PGA Tour!” Another fan directly blamed the Spaniard for fracturing the professional game: “Thanks for helping to divide professional golf Jon. You really made things suck for the fans of the game,” referring to the ongoing split between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour that has separated top players into competing circuits since 2022.

The partnership announcement also prompted sarcastic responses about LIV Golf’s commercial viability, with one comment mockingly stating: “No OnE wIlL eVeR pArTnEr WiTh LIV,” using alternating case to convey the irony of a major equipment manufacturer signing with a LIV team after many predicted that major brands would avoid association with the Saudi-backed league.

Does this partnership signal a shifting tide in how major brands view LIV Golf? Or is it simply a case of Callaway maintaining its relationship withJon  Rahm regardless of where he plays? What’s your take on equipment deals in golf’s divided landscape? Let us know in the comments section below!