Justin Rose has signed multi-year deal with Honma Golf, ending months of speculation whether the World No 2 would make the move from long-time equipment sponsor TaylorMade.
“Coming off one of my best years professionally, I wanted to make it a point to get better. I believe Honma equipment and the legendary Honma craftsmanship can help make me better,” said Rose, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist and 2013 US Open champion.
The 38-year-old Englishman enjoyed a superb year in 2018, winning twice and topping the PGA Tour’s FedExCup rankings. Rose also occupied the World No 1 spot for four weeks.
Founded in 1959 in Sakata, Japan, Honma is famed for its bespoke clubs that are among the highest-priced in the world. The brand is now owned by a China-based company.
“When we thought about the ideal golfer that aligns with our company values, everything pointed to Justin Rose,” said Honma chairman Liu Jian Guo. “Justin is a world-class player and, beyond that, a gentleman and family man.
“We strongly believe that, with Justin’s local and international influence in the sport and his media coverage and social media following, the partnership will create an immediate and positive uplift of Honma’s brand image and product awareness in mature markets such as North America and Europe, which will in turn accelerate the implementation of Honma’s growth strategies in these markets.”
