 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports equipment,textile |
| Founded | 1979; 46 years ago (1979) inMcHenry, Illinois |
| Founder | Gary Adams |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | David Abeles (CEO) |
| Products | Golf clubs,balls,clothing |
| Parent | Centroid Investment Partners |
| Website | www |
TaylorMade Golf Company is an Americansports equipment manufacturing company based inCarlsbad, California,United States. The company focuses on thegolf equipment market, producinggolf clubs,balls, andclothing. TaylorMade Golf is currently asubsidiary of Centroid Investment Partners after it was purchased fromKPS Capital Partners in May 2021.[1]
TaylorMade's initial success came with the innovation of metal drivers, which debuted in 1979 and have subsequently dominated the golf market.[2] In September 2012,Outside magazine named TaylorMade one of America's "Best Places to Work".[3]
TaylorMade incorporated in 1979 afterGary Adams borrowed $24,000 on his house and leased a 6,000 square foot building inMcHenry, Illinois. He originally had three employees and sold only one item, his newly invented 12-degree loftmetalwood. The metalwood was unique in its steel construction - replacing persimmon as the primary material from which modern drivers are manufactured - and adopted the nickname "Pittsburgh Persimmon".[4]
Starting with $47,000 in sales in 1979, the company eventually reached its first billion dollars in revenue in 2006, marking only the second time in history that a golfbrand had achieved this milestone.[5]
TaylorMade was independently owned until 1984, whenSalomon S.A. acquired the company. At the time, the union was strategically compatible for both companies which were innovators in their industries: Salomon wanted to diversify and made the decision to enter a "three-season" market, and TaylorMade benefited from the worldwide resources of Salomon.[citation needed] This ownership maintained untilAdidas bought Salomon in 1997.[6]
Shortly after the Adidasacquisition, the image and focus of TaylorMade were redirected to take over the driver market; the company succeeded in achieving this goal in late 2005, when it officially became the top driver in golf. TaylorMade bought golf clothing companiesAshworth in 2008 andAdams Golf in 2012 but sold them to KPS Capital Partners in 2017.[7][8][9]
In 2017 it was announced thatTiger Woods andRory McIlroy had signed with TaylorMade afterNike's golf division closed.[10][11]
On May 10, 2017 it was announced thatKPS Capital Partners acquired TaylorMade for US$425 million.[12] The deal was completed in November of 2017.[13]
Days after the deal was completed, TaylorMade released a statement to say it had parted company withSergio García, who had been with the brand for 15 years.[14]
On February 3, 2022, the New York Times reported that KPS had hiredMorgan Stanley to run a sale of TaylorMade with a value estimated around US$2 billion.
On May 11, 2022, Centroid Investment Partners - a Korean private equity firm - signed a definitive agreement to purchase TaylorMade from KPS.
On February 12, 2024, TaylorMade partnered withTiger Woods to launch the golfer's apparel line, Sun Day Red.[15][16] As of January 7, 2025, the tiger logos for Sun Day Red have been challenged by Tigeraire andPuma. Both Oppositions were filed withTrademark Trial and Appeal Board, however, the Tigeraire case has been suspended pending federal litigation.[17]
As with most golf equipment companies, TaylorMade maintain endorsement deals with manyprofessional golfers on the leadingtours, including pastworld number ones such asTiger Woods,Rory McIlroy, andScottie Scheffler. Most contracted players will have the majority, if not all, of their playing equipment supplied by the company, includingCollin Morikawa,Tommy Fleetwood,Nelly Korda,Brooke Henderson,Charley Hull, andKai Trump. A few are only contracted for one item.[18]
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