Good Good Golf fallout continues: Callaway severs ties; brand pulls sponsorship of PGA event

Good Good Golf continues to deal with the backlash from a controversial ad , in which one of its co-founders, Garrett Clark, pushed over a woman for trying to touch his driver. Callaway reportedly cut ties with the company on Thursday, per Sports Business Journal, just hours after Clark issued a video apology.

Then, later on Thursday afternoon, Good Good pulled out of its title sponsorship of a PGA Tour Fall Series event.

Additionally, Callaway is reportedly donating $1 million to charitable causes aimed at preventing violence against women.

"Over the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we re-posted," Callaway said in a statement to SBJ. "We heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people. Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment. "These actions do not undo the harm caused or excuse our role in it. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, disappointed, or offended by this incident."

"Over the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we re-posted," Callaway said in a statement to SBJ. "We heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people. Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment.

"These actions do not undo the harm caused or excuse our role in it. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, disappointed, or offended by this incident."

After days of silence, Clark finally issued a statement Thursday, putting out an 8 1/2-minute apology video on social media.

In the video , Clark immediately apologizes for the ad — which was delivered in partnership with Callaway — and him playing a starring role in it.

"Wanted to come on here real quick and talk about the current situation with Callaway and Good Good and the ad that was just pushed out there to promote the Good Good/Callaway driver. "I want to first start by saying I personally want to apologize for playing the role in this skit, in this ad, at the magnitude that I did. And then on Good Good's behalf and on Good Good's marketing team's behalf, I want to say an apology as well, because this is not at all what we stand for, the way that this ad was received is not how Good Good is, and it's not what we stand for, once again."

"Wanted to come on here real quick and talk about the current situation with Callaway and Good Good and the ad that was just pushed out there to promote the Good Good/Callaway driver.

"I want to first start by saying I personally want to apologize for playing the role in this skit, in this ad, at the magnitude that I did. And then on Good Good's behalf and on Good Good's marketing team's behalf, I want to say an apology as well, because this is not at all what we stand for, the way that this ad was received is not how Good Good is, and it's not what we stand for, once again."

Clark then added, "I do not support DV abuse or any of that."

The apology apparently wasn't enough to put an end to the criticism, as Callaway announced its decision to part ways with the company. The pullout of a reported $6 million sponsorship of the fall event in Austin, Texas, followed.

"The PGA Tour has been informed of Good Good Golf's decision to step away as sponsor of the event in Austin, Texas, this fall," the PGA Tour said in a statement, noting that the tournament will continue as scheduled. "We agree with their decision to use this time to focus on their organization and the work ahead."

In the ad, which was quickly pulled, Clark shoved fellow Good Good personality Alexis Miestowski after she reached for a driver in a golf bag. Clark then stood over Miestowski and sinisterly delivered the line, "Do not touch my driver."

Clark tried to offer an explanation for the thought process behind the ad, saying the company was trying to emulate the movie "Obsession," and that the driver could possess people who touched it. He mentioned there was another part of the ad in which he warned another member of the Good Good team not to touch the driver.

Clark said once he saw the ad, he was "cringing" and thought it was horrible.

He used the rest of the message to condemn people sending hateful messages to Miestowski. Clark said it was fair to send hate to him and Good Good, but that Miestowski should not receive nasty social-media messages.

Clark finally talked about the ways in which Good Good has attempted to "promote the women's side of the game."

The ad ultimately didn't stay on social media for long. Critics very quickly pointed out the questionable optics of the ad — some of which Clark addressed in his video Thursday — causing Good Good to remove it and offer an apology Saturday, a day after it first went live.

A few days later, Callaway — which partnered with Good Good on the driver that's the focus of the ad — followed suit. And while the company's CEO, Chip Brewer, said Good Good produced the ad, it was approved by Callaway before it went up. "That approval should never have happened ," Brewer said.

Callaway then announced it would perform an internal and external investigation and that the company's approval process has already been changed.

The response didn't end there. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp was asked about the ad Tuesday, and made it clear he wasn't happy .

"I think what we saw was concerning, is clearly not aligned with PGA Tour values," Rolapp said. "We take it very seriously. I think their initial response was disappointing. It was a bit defensive and late. "But I think the responses are getting better. I think we've seen some things this morning, we've had some conversations with them, so we'll continue to monitor and work with them going forward. But no, we were disappointed with what we saw."

"I think what we saw was concerning, is clearly not aligned with PGA Tour values," Rolapp said. "We take it very seriously. I think their initial response was disappointing. It was a bit defensive and late.

"But I think the responses are getting better. I think we've seen some things this morning, we've had some conversations with them, so we'll continue to monitor and work with them going forward. But no, we were disappointed with what we saw."

In addition to Rolapp's statement, retailer Golf Galaxy pulled out of a sponsorship deal with the company. The PGA Tour Superstore started removing Good Good merchandise from store shelves.

Good Good and the PGA Tour also have a sponsorship that could be in jeopardy. The company is supposed to sponsor the Good Good Championship in November. Rolapp didn't commit to that name sticking, merely saying Tuesday the situation was "fluid."

Clark did not address the Golf Galaxy situation or Good Good's relationship with the PGA Tour in the video.

Callaway, however, reportedly acted swiftly to make it clear the two companies would not work again.