TaylorMade Sale: Sylvan Considers Bid, McIlroy Visits Singapore

While the sale of TaylorMade remains stalled, a Singapore-based private equity firm is reportedly considering a bid—and Rory McIlroy’s surprise trip to the city-state is raising questions.

The Sylvan Group, a Singapore-based private equity firm, is considering a bid for golf equipment manufacturer TaylorMade. This was reported by the Korea Economic Daily on October 27, 2026. According to the report, Sylvan is backed by the Chinese Reignwood Group, the owner of the Wentworth Club. The report comes at a time when talks between TaylorMade owner Centroid Investment Partners and the leading bidder—a U.S. consortium—have stalled over the price. Nothing has been signed yet, and no official bid has been submitted by Sylvan. According to reports, the figure in question is around 2.5 to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars. Media reports also indicate that the package includes Sun Day Red, the apparel brand that Tiger Woods launched in 2024 in partnership with TaylorMade.

Centroid, Entrada, and F&F: Who’s in the Running for TaylorMade

The seller is the Korean private equity firm Centroid Investment Partners, which has owned TaylorMade since 2021. In July 2026, advisors JPMorgan and Jefferies reportedly selected a consortium consisting of Entrada Partners and Dave Checketts as the preferred bidder. The purchase agreement was originally supposed to be signed in August. That didn’t happen: On September 22, a delay was reported, with the strong won cited as the reason. In mid-October, it was reported that Centroid was ready to sign, but Entrada was hesitating.

TaylorMade itself has remained tight-lipped. President and CEO David Abeles said in an interview with Sports Business Radio that the company is “currently in a process of evaluating strategic options for the future of the company.” TaylorMade did not respond to a request from GolfMagic regarding the latest reports.

The third party at the table is the Korean fashion group F&F Holdings, TaylorMade’s largest strategic investor. Back in June 2025, F&F had stated in a Business Wire press release that it was “methodically preparing to exercise our right of first refusal should circumstances require it.”

The Right of First Refusal: Why Any Bidder Can Be Outbid

This right of first refusal is the key to the deadlocked process. According to reports, it allows F&F to acquire the stake within 14 days of a controlling bid by a third party under the same terms. For any prospective buyer, this means they can invest time and money in evaluating the company and still end up with nothing. Centroid argues that the holder of the right of first refusal should not make a decision until the auction has determined the price and terms.

According to reports, F&F has clearly staked out its position: if the sale price is close to 4 trillion won, the group intends to stand pat. If the price falls in the mid-range of 3 trillion won, F&F aims for a direct takeover. Financing commitments totaling 4 trillion won from three securities firms have been extended through October. Centroid itself is targeting around 4 trillion won.

From the Adidas Sale to the Dispute with F&F

The history of the sale goes back a long way. In 2017, the investment firm KPS purchased TaylorMade from Adidas for $425 million. In May 2021, KPS agreed to sell the company to Centroid, with F&F investing 500 billion won in the deal. At the time, when the Centroid deal was announced, Abeles spoke of a “very important milestone as we continue to build on the momentum of our brand around the world.”

In 2025, Centroid retained JPMorgan and Jefferies and opted for a complete sale instead of an initial public offering. In June 2025, F&F stated that the sale had been initiated without its consent; in July, the group brought in Goldman Sachs as an advisor. In April 2026, Old Tom Capital lost its status as the preferred bidder with an offer of $3.2 billion because the financing fell through. After that, Entrada stepped in.

The Woods family also has close ties to the brand: In addition to Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red label, TaylorMade signed Charlie Woods in September 2026. The core business includes the Driver series ranging from SIM2 to Qi4D and the TP5 family of golf balls.

McIlroy in Singapore: Sentosa, Simulator, and Unanswered Questions

Rory McIlroy is TaylorMade’s flagship athlete. The 37-year-old signed in May 2017; the contract was reported at the time to be a ten-year deal. His participation in the DP World India Championship in Delhi was followed by a surprise trip to Singapore. McIlroy played at the Sentosa Golf Club alongside Becca De Foe, a content creator from the city-state’s scene, and participated in the Paiza Golf Simulator Challenge hosted by Marina Bay Sands. The account Pro Golf Critic on X drew a connection to the TaylorMade sale. There is no confirmation that the potential deal was related to the visit. McIlroy has also not commented on the sale. Sylvans’ partner, Reignwood, is no stranger to European golf: the group owns Wentworth, the venue for the BMW PGA Championship and headquarters of the DP World Tour.

Outlook: Signing, Right of First Refusal, and the Singapore Open

There are no fixed deadlines in the sales process. Still pending are the signing of the purchase agreement with Entrada, F&F’s subsequent decision on the right of first refusal within 14 days, and the question of whether Sylvan will actually submit a bid. As of November 1, 2026, no signed agreement had been reported. Regardless, Sentosa will take center stage in 2027: The Singapore Open will return there from April 15 to 18, with Deutsche Bank as the title sponsor and jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour.