Wagner last year moved from Titleist to TaylorMade for his driver and three wood only.
He has enjoyed his previous success, including two major victories, playing with rival Titleist clubs.
To add financial injury to insult, the 27-year-old Englishman was then dropped by his equipment sponsors Titleist.
That's what makes McIlroy's rare complete-bag switch to Nike from Titleist so difficult.
Callaway, Titleist, Nike, Ping, Cobra and other corporations will suit golfers with clubs, balls, shoes, shirts and just about anything else needed.
Titleist's latest ball was almost called the LSX, for lab speed extreme.
WSJ: A Plea for More Poetry on Golf Balls | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
He also endorses Titleist, Schuco, Oakley, EA Sports, Audemars Piguet and Fathead.
FORBES: Golfer Ian Poulter Continues to Turn Heads with Unique Style
But I was fortunate to have a new putter in the bag, a zingy-looking Titleist Futura model from famed designer Scotty Cameron.
WSJ: Joys and Perils of the Single Walk-On Golfer | Golf Journal
Another, recommended by the experts at the Titleist Performance Institute in California, is teetering on one leg for one minute with my eyes closed.
WSJ: The Punishment of Winter Workouts | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
"Golf balls used to be a lot more about the brand than the technology, " said Michael Mahoney, the director of golf-ball product management at Titleist.
WSJ: A Plea for More Poetry on Golf Balls | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
His baseball cap now switches from Titleist to the Nike tick.
McIlroy started testing his new clubs at the Nike factory in Texas late last year and says the transition from his former Titleist equipment has been seamless.
The names for Titleist's balls come out of the research.
WSJ: A Plea for More Poetry on Golf Balls | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
Microsoft, ESPN, Ticketmaster, and Titleist were among the 15 sponsors.
In 2001, TaylorMade wrested the title of No. 1 driver on Tour away from Titleist, according to the Darrell Survey, and it has creatively exploited that advantage ever since.
WSJ: How TaylorMade Made Its Move | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
According to Gilford's Alexander, the company also wasted too much management time and millions of dollars on expanding into noncore businesses and on a fruitless golf-ball patent-infringement lawsuit against Titleist.
WSJ: How TaylorMade Made Its Move | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
If you just have to have a set of Pings or Titleist or Callaways, watch eBay, Craigslist and the bulletin board at your local course for used clubs for sale.
Other partners include Titleist, Jumeirah Hotels and Audemars Piguet.
FORBES: Will Rory McIlroy Replace Tiger Woods As The Face Of Golf?
On the junior golf circuit there were plenty of complaints about his privileged childhood, his high-end coaches and visits to the Titleist Performance Institute, which is considered the game's top training center.
WSJ: Peter Uihlein's Masters Debut Raises Questions About Golf's Talent Pipeline
For example, he has deals that require him to use TaylorMade golf clubs and golf bags (owned by Adidas) and Titleist golf balls and golf gloves (owned by Acushnet) while wearing Izod apparel during play.
FORBES: Tax Court to Athletes: Image Isn't Everything But It's At Least 50%
Since changing from his Titleist clubs to the Nike brand, he has failed to shine, missing the cut at Abu Dhabi and exiting the WGC Accenture World Matchplay event in Arizona at the first-round stage.
His off-course appetite for helicopters, deep-sea fishing and scuba and skydiving fortified the legend-allowing him to hobnob with the likes of the Australian media magnate Kerry Packer, Jack Welch and Bill Clinton and win lucrative endorsements from Chevrolet and Titleist, the golf-equipment maker.
Worse still, in a desperate attempt to make the weekend, McIlroy gave up on his new sponsor's putter the Nike Method and went back to his tried and trusted short stick, one designed by Scotty Cameron and made by Nike's archrival of the golf manufacturing world, Titleist.
"The difficulty with counterfeiting is you never know where you really stand U.S. Customs examines only a small portion of the goods entering the country, " said Joe Nauman, executive vice president for corporate and legal affairs at Acushnet, which makes Titleist balls and clubs and FootJoy shoes.
WSJ: Psst��Wanna Buy a Counterfeit Golf Club? | Golf Journal by John Paul Newport
应用推荐