The Phoenix-based equipment maker became the second brand to sign an entire LIV Golf team, but this one makes a lot of sense.
Ping has officially stepped into the LIV Golf arena this week with the announcement that the Phoenix, Arizona-based golf equipment maker has partnered with LIV’s Torque GC, the all-Latin American squad captained by longtime Ping staffer Joaquin Niemann.
Like Niemann, the other members of Torque GC – Mito Pereira, Sebastian Munoz, and Carlos Ortiz – have been using Ping equipment for years. As part of the sponsorship agreement, they will wear Ping-branded headwear, continue to play Ping clubs and carry a Ping staff bag.
Ping CEO and President John K. Solheim said, “All four of the Torque GC team members played Ping equipment prior to turning professional and continue to do so today. We’ve had strong relationships with each of them throughout their careers. They are great friends and tremendous competitors. We look forward to following their successes both as a team and individuals as they help increase Ping’s awareness to golfers around the world.”
Niemann is currently the top-ranked player in LIV Golf, having won four individual events, including two this season.
Ping’s deal is not the only recent one with LIV Golf
In addition to the Torque GC players, Ping has continued to support several staff players who chose to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf, including Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. The company’s signing of Torque GC comes on the heels of Callaway signing a deal with Legion XIII in March, a LIV Golf team headed by Jon Rahm. Apparel maker Stuburt signed a deal with Torque GC, Fireballs GC and Stinger GC in 2024, and Primo announced in January that it had signed a deal with Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC. Now, with Callaway’s and Ping’s announcements, we could be seeing that hard goods manufacturers may be ready to follow suit.
Typically, golf equipment deals between brands and players have a three- or four-year duration. While the golf world has been waiting for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to finalize an agreement and either merge or partner, some endorsement deals may be nearing an end. Signing entire teams to a sponsorship deal could be a way for a company to maintain its relationship with players while also solidifying LIV Golf’s team concepts.
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