Good Good CEO Says He Never Saw Controversial Ad as Callaway Gives $1 Million

Q: Who really approved the controversial golf ad that cost Good Good its biggest corporate deals and PGA Tour sponsorship?

The evidence shows the ad was approved by marketing teams at both Good Good and Callaway, but no public reporting has established a single final individual decision-maker. Callaway’s side is the clearest on record. CEO Chip Brewer said the company had reviewed and approved the ad before it ran, and Callaway later acknowledged its review process “was not comprehensive enough.” The company also said it took internal corrective action; multiple reports say two marketing employees were let go. That amounts to a public admission that Callaway signed off on the spot at the company level. Good Good’s side is murkier but still points to internal approval below the CEO level. Matt Kendrick told Front Office Sports he did not see the ad before it went live and said he does not approve every social post. He said Good Good’s marketing team saw it, while also accusing Callaway of requesting the ad, approving it, and then abandoning Good Good when the backlash hit. Garrett Clark later said the concept was intended as a reference to the film “Obsession,” but called it a terrible idea in hindsight. So the most supportable answer is that the ad was jointly approved through both companies’ marketing channels, with Callaway publicly admitting approval and Good Good acknowledging internal team involvement. What remains unproven is who, if anyone, gave the final personal signoff beyond those teams.

3 articles · Updated · Front Office Sports · Aug 28

Matt Kendrick said he did not see Good Good’s controversial Callaway ad before it was released, saying both companies’ marketing teams had approved it and he viewed it only after it was pulled.
Kendrick said Good Good removed the people responsible for the ad, apologized again, and called the spot “not acceptable” once he saw it.
In a widely viewed X post — nearly 4.5 million views in under seven hours — Kendrick accused Callaway of approving the ad, then making Good Good “take the fall” before cutting ties.
He later told Front Office Sports he is not considering legal action despite a deleted reply saying he was “not opposed” to suing, and said the companies had been discussing an extension before their deal was due to expire at year-end.
The fallout has already spread beyond the partnership: Callaway pledged $1 million to groups fighting violence against women, while Dick’s pulled Good Good products and the PGA Tour and Golf Channel stepped back from related projects.