Good Good Callaway backlash ends partnership and Austin event sponsorship
Callaway ended its three-year partnership with Good Good after the disputed driver ad, while Good Good stepped away from its Austin PGA TOUR event.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The Good Good Callaway backlash has ended a three-year partnership and prompted Good Good Golf to step away as sponsor of a PGA TOUR event in Austin, Texas, after a driver commercial drew criticism for making light of violence against women.
The 60-second promotion, made for a Callaway driver co-branded with Good Good, showed Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark push golfer Alexis Miestowski to the ground as she reached toward the club. Clark then warned her not to touch his new driver, according to CBS News and ESPN.
The clip was staged, not an account of a real-world assault. But critics said its use of violence against a woman as a joke was unacceptable. Good Good removed the video, and both the creator group and Callaway apologized.
Why did Callaway end its partnership with Good Good?
Callaway CEO Chip Brewer said Good Good had produced the commercial and Callaway had approved it. In an Aug. 25 apology, Brewer said that approval should not have happened, CBS News reported.
Callaway later ended the three-year partnership and said it would give $1 million to organizations working to prevent violence against women. The company said those steps could not undo the harm or excuse its role in the incident, according to CBS News.
Good Good said the ad was intended as a parody inspired by the horror film Obsession. Clark subsequently called it the worst ad known to man and said it did not reflect what the company stands for, CBS News reported.
Matt Kendrick, Good Good's chief executive and a co-founder, acknowledged that the company made a terrible ad, Yahoo Sports reported. Kendrick later said Good Good did not intend to sue Callaway.
Will the Austin PGA TOUR event still be played?
Yes. Good Good decided to withdraw as sponsor of the Austin event after discussions with the PGA TOUR, according to a joint statement from the organization and Kendrick. The PGA TOUR said it agreed that Good Good should use the time to focus on its organization and its work ahead.
The tournament remains scheduled for Nov. 12-15, 2026. The TOUR said it will announce sponsorship plans later. Readers can review the PGA TOUR and Good Good statements.
Retailers and Golf Channel also acted
Dick's Sporting Goods and its Golf Galaxy subsidiary removed Good Good merchandise from stores and online listings, ESPN reported. Front Office Sports also found that several PGA TOUR Superstore locations had pulled the products; a company spokesperson said the video did not match its values or its commitment to making golf welcoming.
Golf Channel delayed the premiere of Big Break x Good Good by a week after a sponsor asked to remove its branding from the program, according to ESPN and Front Office Sports.
Good Good has said it plans to donate proceeds from the driver campaign to an organization that supports women, CBS News and Front Office Sports reported.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.