Nike is not the only golf attire and equipment company beefing up their ranks of official staff players.
Callaway Golf not only has signed big-hitting Belgium Nicolas Colsaerts and exciting Japan star Ryo Ishikawa but they’re also managed to get the signature of ultra-talented Swedish golfer Kris Broberg to a contract.
It means Broberg now joins close friend and compatriot, Alex Noren at Callaway.
While Rory McIlroy was the undeniable star on the main European Tour Broberg stunned genuine golf observers with his efforts on the secondary Challenge Tour.
Super talented Swede Kristoffer Broberg signs with Callaway. (Exclusive first on-course photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
In his first five events Broberg finished ninth, first, first, third and first.
He then played four straight events on the European Tour and in returning to the Challenge Tour he captured the Crowne Plaza Copenhaegan Challenge on route to eventually second on the 2012 Challenge Tour money list.
Only one player anywhere around the world bettered Broberg’s number of victories in 2012 and that was McIlroy who captured the PGA Championship, three regular PGA Tour events and the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Broberg made his debut on the 2013 Race to Dubai, as a full Tour member in the rain-shortened Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban.
A week later the quietly-spoken Swede virtually wrapped-up his Tour card for 2014 brilliantly finishing runner-up to Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and posting four sub-par rounds in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Joburg.
Now as a Callaway staff player Broberg has travelled to the Middle East for a first time for the three events on the Middle East Swing.
Broberg will tee up in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship coming up for a first time in his career against McIlroy and the 14-time Major winning, Tiger Woods.
“I’m at the start of my European Tour journey and it is comforting to know I have the support and guidance from Team Callaway while I compete,” he said.
“It is very important that when I’m playing, I know I can trust the performance of my equipment and Callaway and Odyssey gives me this confidence.”
Neil Howie, President and Managing Director of Callaway Golf Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Kristoffer is a rising talent and I’m sure he will become one of the stars of the European Tour in years to come. Callaway has a heritage of spotting, nurturing and developing young players and Kristoffer is the latest in a long line of potential stars we have helped to become consistent winners.”
In the Bag – Kristoffer Broberg
- Driver: 8.5 RAZR Fit Xtreme
- Fairways: 13.5 RAZR Fit Xtreme 3-wood
- Hybrid : 18 X Hot
- Irons: X Forged (2013)
- Wedges : X Forged
- Putter: Odyssey #1 Versa Putter
- Golf Ball: Hex Black Tour
Kristoffer is also contracted to wear Callaway apparel, in which a range of ‘slim fit’ shirts will be a feature of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. This will be of particular interest to golfers in Scandinavia who prefer a more tailored look to their golf attire.
Callaway www.callawaygolf.com
