Tiger and Nike break up, Jason Day and Malbon disrupt Tour fashion, Rickie trades a ‘P’ for an ‘L’ and a good cause, new kicks with checks and stripes, and how to wear an Aloha print hat. We break down the crazy week that was at the season kick-off at Kapalua.
Tiger Woods (???)
Rumors have been swirling about a Tiger/Nike split and his response to a question at the Hero World Challenge fueled the speculation. Over the past few weeks, the questions have changed from ‘if’ to ‘when’ and on Monday we got the answer as Tiger and Nike coordinated their good-bye messages on social media.
I’ve been a sports fan my entire life and there are still some things I can’t square in my head. Michael Jordan ditching the red and black of the Bulls for the blue and copper (lol!) of the Wizards. Tom Brady strapping on the pewter Buccaneers helmet instead of a silver Patriots lid. Lionel Messi donning the ummmm… pink and black of Inter Miami rather than the royo y azul of Barcelona. But I still can’t imagine a world where Tiger is no longer rocking the Sunday red and black while adorned with numerous Swooshes.
What will Tiger be wearing the next time he tees it up? Well, the Big Cat has promised an announcement in L.A., presumably before the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, which gives us plenty of time to speculate about his next move. Are those FootJoys on his feet a hint? Has his son, Charlie, been field testing those Greyson threads for him? Betting money seems to be on TaylorMade and the OEM’s (alleged) soon-to-be-launched apparel line. Will Tiger’s TW brand have a spot in TaylorMade’s apparel play? All this is probably worth a post itself.
Jason Day (Malbon Golf)
The biggest golf fashion story of the week (before the Tiger/Nike announcement) was Jason Day inking a deal with boutique brand Malbon Golf. The L.A.-based label has developed a cult following with social media influencers, musicians, and athletes in other sports thanks to its hip, streetwear-inspired designs and collabs with leading on- and off-course brands.
The tradewinds of change are blowing in more ways than one in the golf fashion world. I did a deeper dive on the significance of the Day/Malbon partnership, but here’s the 50,000 foot view.
The ‘slim to win’ era has subtly been coming to a close. Baggy fits inspired by late ‘90s/early 2000’s looks have been gaining traction in men’s fashion. It was only a matter of time before they found a place on the course. I’m catching the same vibes from Malbon and Day that I caught from J.Lindeberg, Jesper Parnevik, and Camilo Villegas in the mid-aughts as they led the golf fashion revolution (ironically) away from baggy looks and to the the slim-fit outfits that have dominated the fairways recently.
Day’s signing, Tiger’s next chapter, and Xander’s move (see below) signal a shift in the golf fashion landscape in another way. As sneaker companies are moving away from big money player deals, it is opening the door for smaller brands and OEMs to walk through it.
All that being said, I’m not sold on J-Day being the right guy to carry Malbon on Tour, but I’ll wait to see how it plays out.
Rickie Fowler (Puma Golf)
When you think about players shaking up the golf fashion scene at Kapalua, Rickie Fowler has been the best bet. From joggers and high-tops to untucked Aloha shirts, Rickie hasn’t shied away from challenging the status quo over the years.
This week, it was all about supporting others, though. Fowler exchanged his signature Puma ‘P’ hat for one with a red ‘L.’ The new lid was inspired by a similar ‘L’ that sits on the hillside above Lahainaluna High School. All proceeds from the hat are going to support victims of the August wild fires that destroyed the town of Lahaina.
I’m usually not a fan of the all-white fit, but in this case, it really allows the hat to stand out.
Tommy Fleetwood (Nike)
While Nike let a few big names go, the brand is still alive and cranking out innovative footwear. Tommy Fleetwood gave us a look at the new Nike Free G in the wild. You’ll remember Tommy-lad quickly put the TW’13 with a Free sole in play when the Swoosh rebooted that shoe last year. Since he probably won’t be lacing up that shoe anymore, this looks like a new go-to for him.
Tom Kim (Nike)
Not to be outdone, fellow Nike staffer Tom Kim put another new model in play. Word on the street is this is the new Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour Next% 2. Looks crispy and clean.
Akshay Bhatia (Greyson Clothiers & Adidas Golf)
Greyson dropped its very timely Hawaii-inspired collection this week and Akshay Bhatia went all in on it. While we are used to seeing colorful floral prints in the Aloha state, the polo had more of a lush, tropical jungle vibe. Think Kauai as opposed to Waikiki. Pairing this dark green and black print with Greyson’s Meadowsweet Purple Montauk Joggers was a genius move. It was one of the more creative pairings of the week and the color of the trousers coordinated nicely with the collar and butterflies on the shirt.
Xander Schauffele (Descente & Adidas Golf)
Another apparel change sees Xander Schauffele ditch his three-stripes threads for Descente. We’ve been big fans of Danny Willett in Descente over the last few years. The biggest issue we’ve had is actually adding Descente to our wardrobes as the brand’s distribution in the U.S. has been spotty at best.
All isn’t lost for the Xander/Adidas relationship as Schauffele gave us a glimpse at what appears to be the new Tour360 Boost.
Justin Rose (Peter Millar & Jordan)
Another top player, another apparel switch as Justin Rose has left Bonobos and is now wearing Peter Millar. Rose has had an interesting voyage with golf apparel and footwear. The dude has tried just about every shoe on the market over the past few years. On the apparel side he’s gone from Adidas to Ashworth back to Adidas and then to Bonobos. At Bonobos he was the face of the brand and had his own signature pieces, which were favorites of mine. I have to wonder if he just wasn’t moving the needle enough to warrant the money they were paying him.
Si Woo Kim (Bad Birdie & Adidas Golf)
But wait! There’s more. Si Woo Kim has (thankfully) traded in those dizzying patterns for, well, Bad Birdie’s bold prints. This is another example of an up-and-coming brand gaining exposure on the PGA Tour. Bad Birdie has been gaining traction on social media and with the new party golf crowd as a result of its loud and irreverent vibe. If ever there is ever a place for some Bad Birdie, it is the Hawaiian Islands.
Taylor Moore (B.Draddy & FoootJoy)
Ping is known for getting into the Aloha spirit every year by providing its players colorful floral print hats. The lids are certainly cool for cruising around Kapalua, but when it comes to the rest of the outfit, less is more Moore. Taylor Moore grabbed his first Threadie by landing on our best dressed list for 2023 thanks to clean, classic fits. It was no surprise that he sported the floral cap the best by keeping the rest of his fit simple.