By: Len Ziehm
Gary Woodland is just the latest Wilson staff player to win a major title. His victory in the 119th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach won’t be forgotten – and certainly not at Chicago’s biggest golf equipment company.
Tim Clarke, who heads Wilson’s golf division, added Gary Woodland to the company’s player ambassador staff last winter and Woodland delivered big time at the U.S. Open, a performance should pay dividends to Wilson, as well as, to Woodland himself.
“We couldn’t have a better story for our brand,’’ said Clarke. “It was unbelievable.’’ 
Woodland was no slouch before signing with Wilson, having won three times on the PGA Tour before claiming his first major championship title at Pebble Beach.
After the $2.2 million for his win at Pebble Beach, his career winnings hit the $25.5 million mark. The U.S. Open win was special for the entire Wilson golf family, not just Woodland alone.
Kevin Streelman, who had been Wilson’s top gun on the PGA Tour though he didn’t qualify for the U.S. Open, responded via Twitter.
“I’m so happy for Gary and his entire family. I’m proud of the classiest company and the best-looking clubs in the business. I’m proud to be an ambassador and member of the team.’’
Back in golf’s good old days Wilson clubs were played by numerous champions. Woodland used Wilson irons and donned the company’s hat and glove en route to his dramatic victory.
“It was a pretty strong endorsement that our equipment works,’’ said Clarke. “ We still have had more major champions playing our clubs than any other company.’’
Woodland won the 62nd major title playing Wilson clubs. The first was Gene Sarazen in 1931.
“That was pretty much the starting point. It started the movement for companies to start stinging players,’’ said Clarke.
Others using Wilson clubs when they won a big one included Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Nick Faldo, Ben Crenshaw and Padraig Harrington.
It’s commonplace that major championship winners receive bonuses from their equipment companies, and Clarke said that would be the case with Woodland, though he was coy about what that reward would be.
“It’s complicated,’’ said Clarke, “but everything has a price and obviously there’ll be a reward. I was 100 percent sure that he’d win a major when we signed him, and I even thought that it would be this year. We believe that elite athletes drive consumer awareness.’’
Gary Woodland’s name has not only been added to the U.S. Open Trophy, but he also joins a distinguished list that includes, Sarazen, Snead, Palmer, Casper and Faldo that have won major championship using Wilson Golf Equipment.
