Ping became the second OEM to work with the LIV team.
Liv Golf
When Liv Golf enters the scene, it promises more than just a bigger wallet and a shiny format. Liv hints at a new model to enable how professional golf works. This vision takes another big step forward as club manufacturers start sponsoring the entire team… This development can reshape the golf business as we know it.
Surprisingly, Ping just signed on to sponsor Torque GC, one of Liv's most successful and active squads.
The new deal kicked off this weekend in Liv Golf Mexico City, Ping officially returns to a full-length lineup that includes Joaquín Niemann, Mito Pereira, Sebastián Muñoz and Carlos Ortiz, all of which grew up on Ping Gear and continues to rely on Ping as a whole.
“All four torque GC team members play Ping equipment before turning to professionals and continue to do so today,” Ping President and CEO John K. Solheim said in a press release. “They are good friends and a huge competitor. We look forward to their success as a team and individual as they help raise Ping's awareness of golfers around the world.”
Ping's support is not only behind the scenes. Looking forward to Ping brand headwear, employee bags and full club set for all four players…marking a rare moment, the equipment company is well represented with the team’s visual identity and course image.
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Johnny Wunder
Personal contact
For Niemann, the captain of the Torque GC team, the ping connection is very personal.
“My first group of flat clubs was one of their junior clubs and my ping club has been in my bag ever since,” Neman said. “They are an engineering company that puts product performance in all aspects… We are honored and grateful to Ping choose to support torque GC in this meaningful way.”
Not only is Niemann all the talk, but he has already won four individual wins on LIV (including two of the season) and a high-profile win on last year’s Asian Tour and debuted on Ping’s new G440 Driver.
PING G440 LST custom driver
The G440 Driver Family (Max, LST, SFT) is optimized with multiple advancements to deliver higher ball speeds, including Ping’s deepest CG and shallower, thinner faces, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness that Ping drivers expect. The G440 LST (Low Scroll) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, offering lower rotation speeds in the 9° and 10.5° lofts, and has three positions rear weight. A highly tolerant, lighter head weight can make the back weight heavier. Faster faces are shallower and thinner, and the face increases the ball speed to increase distance, and a higher launch. The sound design is new shaping, the carbon crown and inner ribs will create a soft impact experience. Freestyle design saves weight to lower CG and increases forgiveness. Allow more heel flexion to stabilize the face.
$599 from Fairway Jockey
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Also available at: Dick's Sports Goods PGA Tour Superstore
Big picture: What this means for Liv Golf
The move marks a shift in club companies interacting with professional golf. Ping is not a traditional one-to-one recognition deal, but investing in the entire team brand, which is exactly in line with Liv's team-based vision.
This was a similar move taken by Callaway to announce a deal to sponsor Jon Rahm's Legion XIII last month.
Is this a marketing development?
Ping bets that tie itself to a team that performs best, branded like Torque GC will provide more visibility than a single recognized one.
Torque GC won the spotlight: They made the top five in 11 of the 13 games this season, won four teams, and are becoming one of Liv's flagship franchises.
According to Liv Pros
Zephyr Melton
What's next?
If other equipment manufacturers follow Ping and Callaway's lead, we can see the domino effect: Taylormade, Cobra, Titleist, all of which are likely to be focusing on similar team deals. The move may also affect player recruitment, branding strategies, and even equipment development tailored to the team. Does anyone say the limited edition G440 metal woods? Yes, please.
Ultimately, Ping’s partnership with Torque GC is not only a sponsorship, but also a huge investment in the future of Liv Golf. And, if there is a reward, it may change the way we think about teams, equipment, and marketing as we move forward.
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