Here’s one that is seemingly coming out of nowhere, but Srixon/Cleveland and Brooks Koepka have mutually agreed to part ways.
A press release from Srixon/Cleveland parent company Dunlop Sports Americas says the parting is effective immediately.
“Brooks has served as an exceptional brand ambassador for the Srixon and Cleveland Golf brands,” the announcement reads. “His commitment to competing at the highest level of the game, including a major championship victory with Srixon and Cleveland Golf equipment in play exemplified the performance standard both brands stand for.”
Koepka signed a multi-year deal with Srixon/Cleveland in late 2021. His first career event as a brand ambassador was the made-for-TV grudge match against Bryson DeChambeau a few days later in Las Vegas.
How it started and how it ended
Koepka was a Nike staffer right up until that company exited the golf equipment business in 2016. From that point until signing the Srixon/Cleveland deal, he was a free agent. Koepka played Mizuno irons until early 2021 when, without a contract, he switched to a set of Srixon ZX7 irons. He won the Phoenix Waste Management Open that February with those Sirxons in the bag.
During that year, Srixon developed a ball specifically for Koepka, which became the Srixon Z-STAR Diamond.
Seven months after signing the deal with Srixon/Cleveland, Koepka was among the first golfers to leave the PGA and join LIV. He had knee surgery during the 2021 season and had been battling injuries. He admitted that the nine-figure offer from LIV was too good to pass up.
“I’m gonna be honest with you, I signed for the dough,” Koepka said on the BS w/Jake Paul podcast last October. “Tomorrow I can go get in a car accident and never play golf again and my family’s taken care of.”
Koepka left LIV earlier this year under the PGA’s readmission program.
Where does Koepka go from here?
A multi-major winner with considerable notoriety would be a nice prize for any OEM. Koepka, however, is a different sort of cat. He could sign on with McLaren (we’ve heard nothing to substantiate that, however. It’s pure speculation), or he could remain a free agent and play what he wants.
We’re not sure if there were cracks in his relationship with Srixon/Cleveland, although Koepka did notably switch from his Srixon ball to a Titleist just before The Masters.
Where he winds up, if anywhere, will be a story worth watching.