Good afternoon everyone! TaylorMade Golf has landed a big fish in the endorsement world. They’ve announced that Camilo Villegas will join thier staff in 2011. You can see the full press release below but here are the main points – Villegas will play TaylorMade clubs and ball. He’ll also wear a TaylorMade glove and hat, Adidas shoes and will carry a TaylorMade bag. You might remember that his current sponsor, Cobra Golf, was recently purchased by Puma. Cobra signed Puma staffer Johan Edfors to an equipment contract a few weeks ago. I’d imagine that Cobra/Puma will be on the lookout for a marquee name. Rickie Fowler would be the logical choice although he signed a muliti-year deal with Titliest last September.
Global Golf Star Camilo Villegas to Join TaylorMade Tour Staff in 2011
Ranked No. 25 in the World, the Three-Time PGA Tour Winner is One of the Brightest Stars in Professional Golf
CARLSBAD, Calif., (August 3, 2010) – PGA Tour professional Camilo Villegas, currently No. 25 in the World Golf Rankings, will join the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff in 2011.
Villegas, 28, will play TaylorMade® clubs, a TaylorMade ball, wear TaylorMade headwear, wear a TaylorMade glove, use a TaylorMade staff bag and wear adidas Golf footwear. More details on the relationship between Villegas and TMaG will be revealed on September 9.
“Camilo is a winner, a gentleman, and a fan favorite,” said Mark King, president and CEO of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. “Cameras tend to find him because he has presence and magnetism that’s impressive and rare. Camilo also shares the same values with our brand and our people, including a burning desire to improve and reach his potential. We very much want to help him do that, which is why we believe this is a great fit.”
Villegas’ charisma and aggressive style of play made him an instant sensation on the PGA Tour. He is well known to golf fans for his efficient swing and seemingly effortless power, as well as his signature “Spiderman crouch” when he reads putts, which prompted fans from his home town to nickname him “Hombre Arana.” His popularity has also attracted plenty of attention off the golf course, where he has been featured in GQ Magazine and named one of People Magazine’s “hottest bachelors” in 2006.
A native of Medellin, Colombia who now resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., Villegas notched two runner-up finishes and a total of four top-tens in 2006, his rookie year. His breakthrough triumph came at the 2008 BMW Championship, where he became the first Colombian to win on the PGA Tour; he also captured the TOUR Championship later that year. His most recent victory was the 2010 Honda Classic. He has also won twice internationally: the 2001 Columbian Open and the 2007 Coca-Cola Tokai Classic.
Other members of the renowned TaylorMade Tour Staff include Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Dustin Johnson, Kenny Perry, Y.E. Yang, Jason Day, Retief Goosen, Sean O’Hair, Sergio Garcia, Edoardo Molinari, Darren Clarke, Mike Weir and Rory Sabbatini.
About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf creates high-performance, technology-infused golf apparel and footwear worn by hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Ashworth, which became a brand of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company in 2008, creates relaxed, lifestyle-oriented golf apparel synonymous with authenticity and quality. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, www.ashworthgolf.com, and www.tmag.com.
About the adidas Group
About the adidas Group The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry offering a broad range of products across the three core brands adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 39,000 employees and generated sales of EUR 10.381 billion in 2009.