Golf Blog

Archive for the ‘Golfers’ Category

-Four-time European Tour winner signs multi-year agreement-

BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 18, 2012) – Nike Golf is proud to announce that Ross Fisher, a four-time winner on the European Tour, has joined the Nike Golf Tour Staff.

In switching to exclusively play and wear Nike Golf products, Fisher is making the first manufacturer change during his seven-year career as a tour professional. The 31-year-old from West London, whose most recent victory was at the Irish Open in 2010, has signed a multi-year agreement to represent the Swoosh from head-to-toe.

Fisher said he was attracted to the energy and innovation that Nike Golf has been bringing to golf since it launched its first equipment line just over 10 years ago. “Just looking at the history of Nike, it’s all about innovative products that are designed specifically for athletes. Nike Golf is the same. At Nike, golfers are athletes,” said Fisher.

Speaking about his plans for the 2012 season, Fisher said: “My first priority this year is to get back into the world’s top 50, and with the backing and support of my coaches and the team at Nike Golf, I am sure that it’s a realistic goal. Since the end of the season I’ve been working hard on all aspects of my game. I’m really bombing it with the VR Pro Limited Edition driver and I’m looking forward to putting all the new gear into play. At the moment we’re experiencing a golden period for European golf, particularly in Britain, and I just want to be back up there challenging for Majors and another Ryder Cup appearance.”

With four individual wins to his name, and team wins in the 2010 Ryder Cup and Seve Trophy, Fisher remains one of the most talented players of his generation. Joining the European Tour in 2006, he has won four times in consecutive years from 2007, with victories at the KLM Open, the European Open in 2008, the Volvo World Match Play in 2009, and the 3 Irish Open in 2010, where he fired a second round 61 at Killarney.

A notoriously long and accurate ball striker, Fisher gained the honour of having the lowest cumulative score for the four major championships in 2009, when he finished fifth at The US Open.

“We are excited to welcome Ross into the Nike Golf Family,” said Mark Thaxton, Global Director of Sports Marketing Operations for Nike Golf. “We look forward to working with him to ensure he is equipped with the best equipment for his game. Ross is a great player, with an aggressive playing style and we are confident he will thrive in 2012.”

Fisher’s first tournament as a Nike Golf athlete will be at the Abu Dhabi Championship, which takes place from January 26-29.

________________________________________________________________________

Fisher’s Nike Golf Arsenal

• Driver: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 8.5-degree
• Fairway Wood: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood/15-degree
• Hybrid: Nike VR Pro 18-degree
• Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (3-9)
• Wedges: Nike VR Pro 47-, 54- and 60-degree
• Putter: Nike Method 001
• Ball: Nike 20XI-X Apparel: Nike Golf Tour Performance and Sport Collection
• Footwear: Nike Golf TW 2012

-Chappell will play with Nike Golf clubs from its VR franchise; has switched to Nike’s 20XI ball; and will wear Nike Golf apparel and footwear-

Beaverton, OR (January 11, 2012) – Nike Golf today announced the signing of 25-year-old Kevin Chappell, who makes his professional debut as a Nike Golf athlete when he tees it up in the first round of the Sony Open in Honolulu, HI. Chappell has signed a multi-year agreement and will represent Nike Golf in clubs, ball, footwear, glove, bag, apparel, headwear and accessories.

Chappell’s new bag of Nike Golf clubs are highlighted by Nike’s successful VR Franchise, including an 18-degree hybrid from Nike’s brand new award-winning VR_S line of clubs. He also will be playing with the new Nike 20XI ball featuring RZN Core technology, a new lighter and faster innovative material that Nike believes will obsolete rubber core technology. His putter is a Nike Method putter, featuring Polymetal Groove technology that reduces skid while generating a truer forward roll. He will be wearing apparel from Nike Golf’s Sport and Performance line.

Chappell is no stranger to Nike Golf. Prior to signing with the Swoosh as a head-to-toe athlete, he wore the popular Nike Lunar Control golf shoe, featuring Nike’s Lunarlon Foam and Nike Flywire – two technologies that together result in a lightweight shoe providing maximum comfort and stability.

“From the moment I put on those shoes, I knew immediately what Nike Golf stands for – innovation.” said Chappell. “They bring a new vibe and style to the sport. I love that attitude. I’m excited to be playing with Nike clubs and am especially excited about the new 20XI ball. It’s awesome.”

During his rookie season on the PGA Tour last year, Chappell posted three top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish at the U.S. Open, which was his first-ever major championship start on the PGA Tour. Chappell’s best finish was a tie for second at the Valero Texas Open.

Before earning his PGA Tour card, Chappell enjoyed an illustrious career in 2010 on the Nationwide Tour, which was highlighted by a win and seven top-10 finishes.

A native of Fresno, California, Chappell attended UCLA, where he led the Bruins to a national golf title in 2008 and was a three-time All-American selection. Chappell also won the NCAA individual title and Player of the Year.

“Kevin is a super athletic guy with a wealth of talent,” said Mark Thaxton, Global Director of Sports Marketing Operations for Nike Golf. “He’s a powerful player with an impressive short game. We are excited to add him to our stable of athletes.”

Chappell’s Nike Golf Arsenal

Driver: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 9.5

Fairway Wood: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood/15-degree

Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo (3-5); VR Pro Blades (6-9)

Hybrids: Nike VR_S 18-degree

Wedges: Nike VR Pro DS 48, 54 and 60-degree

Putter: Nike Method 003 Prototype

Ball: Nike 20XI

Apparel: Nike Golf Sport and Nike Golf Performance

Footwear: Nike Lunar Control

Ian Poulter is the poster boy for loud golf fashion, and a big fan of Flair Hair hats. We’re enjoying the Flair Hair app for the i-phone at the moment – instant hair with an app. We’ve tried it out on various randoms and staff members:

Mitch the Office Dog

Other Flair Hairs:

Flair Hair Bandana

Ian Poulter Wearing Flair Hair

This past weekend Nike Golf staff athlete Simon Dyson won the Irish Open.

Describing it as “…the best golf I’ve ever played” Dyson attributed much of his success to his laser like iron shots with his VR Pro Combos to beat a field that included the four home bred Major winners – Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.

This is Dyson’s fifth victory on Tour and takes him back into the elite top 50 in the World Rankings at #48.  It also takes him up to 9^th in the Race to Dubai.

In Dyson’s bag:

Driver: Nike SQ Sumo2 10.5

Fairways: 15 Sumo2 & 19 VR STR8-FIT

VR Pro Combo Irons 3 – PW iron

VR Pro Wedges 52 & 60

One Tour D ball

Nike apparel (Border & Tech range)

Nike Lunar Control footwear

Nike Dri-FIT glove

This is Nike Golf’s fifth win on the 2011 European Tour:

Pablo Martin – Alfred Dunhill Championship

Charl Schwartzel – Joburg Open

Paul Casey – Volvo Golf Champions

Charl Schwartzel – The Masters