Justin Rose and Honma: what went wrong?

So what went wrong? Well, it can be difficult for tour pros to find the level of confidence and comfort required with new equipment to perform under pressure at the highest level, which is why we’re seeing more players opting not to sign equipment contracts.

Rose almost certainly didn’t need the money, but with Taylormade looking to streamline its roster of top names and Honma likely coming in with a big number on the table, he clearly felt it was worth the risk. Honma’s product performs – he showed that at Torrey Pines and our testing has backed this up – but this turned out to be a business decision that backfired.

Taylormade demonstrated its capability in creating products just for him with the Rose Proto irons and his play in 2018 was exceptional, but perhaps when the contracts were up for renewal, Rose felt his 20 years of loyalty weren’t being appreciated. That said, he’s reverted to Taylormade woods and irons and already notched a top-five finish post-lockdown, so he looks to be back on track.