PXG, a company you'll be hearing about a lot more this year, inked Open champion Zach Johnson, former FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, and U.S. Open Women's champion Kristy Kerr to new equipment endorsement deals. And Nike Golf signed big hitters Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau to their tour staff.
PXG's Newest Tour Staff
Johnson joins PXG after spending more than 15 years with Titleist. During this time Johnson won 12 times on Tour, including two major championships. And the decision to walk away from a successful relationship like this isn't easy."The decision to put PXG clubs in play was not one I took lightly," Johnson said. "My entire team, from caddie to coach was part of the discernment process. And we all agree that PXG is undeniably the best equipment to help me achieve my goals on the course."
PXG is a newcomer to the golf equipment market, established in 2014 by Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy.com, and self-proclaimed "golf nut."
"We have no constraints on our engineers. No cost constraints. No time constraints, " Parsons said. "And our clubs will do what we say they do."
And Tour players are flocking to PXG. In just over a year, PXG has corralled an A-List roster of players, including James Hahn, Charles Howell III, Chris Kirk, Ryan Moore, and Horschel.
"I was thoroughly impressed after I hit about 10 balls with them," Horschel said. "The feel was so amazing. And we saw an immediate impact on TrackMan. I was hitting the ball about five to seven yards further. When people understand what PXG is all about, they will find out they are building the best clubs out there."
Playing PXG won't come cheap however. A new driver retails for $700, and a full set of irons for about $5,000. And while Parsons admits these are quite expensive compared to other equipment manufacturers, he also believes his clubs will be the best clubs on the market.
"If you ran across a set of clubs where you don't have to change a thing in your game, and would take you down to a 3 (handicap index), and feel great hitting them... you'd do what you could to buy them."
Nike Golf's Newest Tour Staff
The Legion of Swoosh also made big waves signing big hitters Koepka and Finau, in addition 10 other Tour players to new equipment deals. 
Koepka and Finau are two rising stars on Tour, who also happen to be two of the longest hitters on Tour, and both believe their new Nike clubs will help take them to the next level.
"Nike is an iconic brand, and I'm excited what Nike will do in the future for the game of golf," Koepka said. "This partnership will help me achieve my goals."
Here's what Koepka will have in his bag:
- Nike Vapor Fly 10.5* driver
- Nike Vapor Fly 15* 3-wood
- Nike Vapor Fly 20* hybrid
- Nike Vapor Pro Combo 4-iron, Vapor Pro 5-9 irons
- Nike Engage 47*, 50*, 55*, and 60* wedges
- Nike Method Matter B2-01 putter
- Nike RXN Tour/Platinum ball
"The best athletes in the world play for Nike, and I look forward to striving for greatness," Finau said. "Innovation is a big part of Nike and changing the mold, changing the game... that's what drew me to the Swoosh."
Here's what Finau will have in his bag:
- Nike Vapor Fly 10.5* driver
- Nike Vapor Fly 13* fairway wood
- Nike Vapor Fly Pro 4-iron, Vapor Pro 5-PW
- Nike Engage 50*, 56* and 60* wedges
- Nike Method Converge S2/12 putter
- Nike RZN Tour/Black ball
Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. But it's a pretty safe bet Koepka and Finau are comfortable with their new deals.
As always, if you have any questions, shoot me an email here, or DM on twitter @PGAPappas.
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