Golf Unfiltered Podcast 69: TaylorMade Golf Sale and Tiger Expectations

On today's episode of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast I discuss the breaking news involving the Adidas Group/TaylorMade Golf and what our expectations should be when Tiger Woods returns to golf. Be sure to give us a 5-star review on iTunes! And hey, leave a few words as well. It will really help us out!

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Has TaylorMade Golf been sold to another company?

Rumors are swirling among golf equipment pundits that TaylorMade Golf has been sold to another big-name equipment brand.

Quick background

Back in August 2015, Adidas AG -- the entity that owns the TaylorMade Golf equipment brand -- announced they were actively seeking buyers for "some or all of the company's TaylorMade business." It was purported that the company's R15 and AeroBurner drivers were losing out in the market as golfers instead flocked to competing driver makes and models.

"The problem which we have is the R15 and the AeroBurner are not selling," Adidas AG CEO Herbert Hainer told reporters nearly six months ago. "It's also fair to say our competitors are getting better."

Compounding the problem was the fact that Adams Golf, a sub-brand that TaylorMade-Adidas purchased in 2012, was floundering in the market. The first step on Hainer's wishlist was to unload Adams Golf with the possibility of also selling the TaylorMade brand, should a fitting buyer come along. Adidas AG also owns Ashworth golf apparel, which would also be included in any full-scale future sale.

Earlier this month, however, TaylorMade CEO David Abeles sent an email to his company's email subscribers that was quite encouraging to the brand's faithful. While his message reads more like a typical "let's have a great year" speech, Abeles gave no indication of any changes to the brand in the coming months. That didn't stop the wheels from turning.

What we have heard

The rumor mill went into overdrive in the days following Abeles's email blast. We have literally heard everything from "there are no buyers" to "expect a major announcement in days." Here is a list of what we have been told at GU regarding the status of TaylorMade's ownership. As you'll see, it pretty much runs the gamut.

• Multiple sources have informed us that Auschnet, the company that owns Titleist Golf and Footjoy, is the leading candidate to purchase the entirety of Adidas AG's golf brands. This includes TaylorMade, Adams, and Ashworth clothing. This is by far the most common theme we've heard over the last 48 hours.
• Another source who currently works in the golf equipment industry suggests that Under Armour was an interested party at one point. Listeners to our podcast know that UA is looking to get into the equipment game, having already approached (and subsequently denied by) Bridgestone to create a golf ball under the UA brand.
• Our friends at MyGolfSpy.com purchased a Facebook ad stating that TaylorMade has already been sold.

Has @TaylorMadeGolf already been sold? We are hearing yes. Do you think this will be good for the brand? pic.twitter.com/Kl205WrMUM

— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) January 17, 2016

• In typical rumor fashion, conflicting reports suggest that no deal has been finalized with any other company and that everything will remain status quo. Our sources at TaylorMade, who are usually very responsive, have (smartly) gone quiet on this issue.
• UPDATE: We've recently learned that the Wanda Group, a China-based property management juggernaut and largest cinema (yes, movie theaters) ownership company on the globe, has been the primary potential buyer for months. There has been no confirmation that any deal has actually been agreed upon.

What do you think about the potential that TaylorMade Golf will be purchased by another brand? Will it affect your likelihood to purchase their equipment in the future?

PREVIEW: Adidas Golf TOUR360 BOOST

Adidas Golf has unveiled the latest update to their TOUR360 golf shoe line: the TOUR360 BOOST. It has been more than a decade since the first TOUR360 golf shoe was introduced onto the market, and Adidas has made slight upgrades to its design every year since. This year, the TOUR360 BOOST features even more enhancements wrapped in a similar design fans have come to love.

“TOUR360 broke ground when it hit the market in 2005. Our challenge in creating the next generation was living up to the TOUR360 name,” Masun Denison, Director of Footwear at adidas Golf, told PGATOUR.com. “We took everything we’ve learned in the last 10 years including visual cues from prior models while utilizing materials and construction innovation to take the TOUR360 BOOST to the next level. It’s a culmination of years of technology, testing, insights and athlete feedback.”

So what's different? The Adidas Golf TOUR360 BOOST features something called the "Torsion Tunnel;" a line throughout the shoe's mid-sole that promises increased grip traction and overall support for your foot. Smaller enhancements include increased cushioning in the shoe, upgrades to the outer sole's lightweight materials and new color options.

The Adidas Golf TOUR360 BOOST is available for pre-order and will ship on January 8, 2016. It will retail at an MSRP of $200.

(Images from Adidas Golf)

adidas Golf Introduces Men's Travel Capsule Apparel

adidas Golf announced this week the upcoming release of the new men’s travel capsule apparel collection. Designed for the on-the-go golfer with a busy lifestyle, the all-new collection combines style and versatility with elements of travel and performance. An entirely new collection to adidas Golf, the men’s travel capsule is comprised of tees, polos, a lightweight wind jacket, climawarm™ layering pieces, shorts, pants and a matching heathered travel bag – an assortment of apparel created to provide style, comfort and protection in almost any weather condition.

Comprised of seven distinct pieces, the travel capsule collection features an understated color palette of mid grey, vista grey and black, while also including key pieces in intense teal to allow for a variety of stylish combinations. Engineered with lightweight, performance fabrics, each piece within the collection offers the versatility to be worn both on and off the course with no sacrifice in style or comfort.

“The genesis of the travel capsule was to build products that golfers wear before, during and after their rounds,” said Davide Mattucci, Global Director of Apparel Marketing. “Our Tour professionals are continually on the road mixing in workouts, range time, air travel and more, and that was our inspiration for building a collection that could really do it all – both on and off the course.”

The men’s travel capsule collection debuts at retail beginning December 1 and has an MSRP ranging from $40-$125 USD. Visit adidasgolf.com to view the entire collection and follow us on Twitter at @adidasgolf for updates and more information.

adidas Golf tour360 x: The World's First Self-Tying Golf Shoe?

Whenever the folks at adidas Golf announce a new addition to their golf apparel line, people stop and listen. The same can be said for the announcement of their new tour360 x golf shoe, which once again rises the bar on innovation with an exciting new twist. Literally. According to our friends over at The Golf News Net, the adidas Golf tour360 x shoe includes an optional "tongue dial" feature that all but ties the shoes automatically.

...the eye-grabbing optional feature of these shoes is that they basically tie themselves. The tour360 x Boa model features a Boa Technology dial on the center of the tongue, enabling the player to literally dial in the fit exactly how they like it.

That's right folks; now you don't have to waste time tying your shoes before you play golf. How awesome is that?

The new adidas Golf tour360 x shoes also come equipped with the company's patented Climaproof technology to keep your feet comfortable and dry no matter the weather. Look for these shoes to hit store shelves on November 1 at a price point of $180.