Sports

Callaway, Good Good Golf Apologize Over Controversial Ad

Was this a failure against women in golf or a misstep met with genuine accountability?

Published AUG 25

Callaway, Good Good Golf Apologize Over Controversial Ad

Story

Above: Stock photo of a man swinging a golf driver. Image credit: Courtney Cook/Unsplash

The Facts

Callaway Golf CEO Chip Brewer issued a statement in the early hours of Tuesday acknowledging that his company had approved a since-deleted advertisement, produced by Good Good Golf, that showed a man shoving a woman to the ground.
CNN
FOX News
Brewer said Callaway is conducting internal and external investigations and has made changes to its approval processes. Good Good Golf CEO Matt Kendrick said the ad was intended as a parody of the horror film "Obsession," but "missed the mark."
The Wall Street Journal
New York Post
Good Good Golf posted an apology on Saturday after removing the video, stating the ad "depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand." The PGA Tour also released a statement saying it does not condone "violence in any form."
CNN
FOX News
Good Good Golf on X
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp told reporters at East Lake Golf Club that Good Good's initial response to the controversy was "disappointing" and "a bit defensive and late," adding that the Tour would monitor how the situation develops.
New York Post
CNN
Good Good Golf, which raised $45 million in funding in 2025 and has more than 2.1 million YouTube subscribers, is the title sponsor of the inaugural Good Good Championship scheduled for November in Austin, Texas.
New York Post
The Wall Street Journal
The National Golf Foundation reported a 45% increase in female golfers between 2020 and 2025, compared to a 12% rise in male golfers over the same period. Women now account for 28% of all golfers, the highest proportion on record.
CBS News
MyGolfSpy

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The Good Good and Callaway ad wasn't just a bad joke, but a systemic failure that exposed how little these brands actually value women in golf. Multiple layers of business professionals approved content showing a man physically knocking down a woman, then standing over her, and nobody pumped the brakes. The hollow apologies that followed showed zero real understanding of the harm done, making the whole incident even worse.

MyGolfSpy

Nicole Rae on X

Narrative B

Good Good and Callaway made a serious mistake, owned it and committed to fixing internal processes — which is the right move and should be the end of the discussion. Unfortunately, the online mob is demanding a disproportionate response, calling on the PGA Tour to strip Good Good of its sponsorship, which would hurt the millions of young fans the brand brings into golf. Instead of destroying a beloved brand, let them learn from their mistake and move on.