Tag Archives: Nike Golf

DP World Tour, What's in the bag…

Nike Golf – Rory McIlroy’s arsenal to win Omega Dubai Desert Classic

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January 2, 2015 – Rory McIlroy, the No. 1 golfer in the world, has clinched his first win in 2015 – one step closer in his journey to The Masters. The Nike athlete’s dominant victory came at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour, the same place he won his first tournament as a professional in 2009.

Having led from day two, his 22-under- par 72-hole total tied the lowest score ever recorded in the history of the tournament, and left his pursuers three shots back. So far in 2015, McIlroy’s record is nearly perfect, having finished second and first in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.

With the new Nike Vapor Pro driver in his bag, McIlroy led the field in driving distance averaging 317.9 yards. McIlroy was influential in the development of the Vapor Pro driver, which became available in stores on January 30, 2015. It blends three key technologies: Nike’s new FlyBeam reinforced Covert Cavity Back design, a re-engineered Compression Channel and FlexLoft 2. All of these are vital to the golf athlete in achieving the ultimate in hitting their window of distance, speed and launch conditions.

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McIlroy relied on his new wedge, a Nike Engage Dual Sole 59-degree, to help him get through the rough more consistently. For impressive accuracy and control, McIlroy also relied upon the Speedlock RZN Core technology found in his Nike RZN Black golf ball.

The innovative Speedlock RZN core, created with an interlocking core design, helps promote better energy transfer between the layers at impact for faster ball speed, longer distance and more stability into the wind.

On the body, McIlroy sported the Nike Lunar Control 3, another product he helped inspire, as well as apparel from Nike Golf’s Performance Collection.

McIlroy’s Nike Golf Arsenal

  • Driver: Nike Vapor Pro (8.5º Neutral, MRC Diamana S+ XTS 70X)
  • 
Fairway Wood: Nike Vapor Speed (3-wood/15º); Nike VRS Covert 5-wood/19º)
  • 
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (3-9)
  • 
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46º, 54º); Nike Engage Dual Sole (59º)
  • Putter: Nike Method 006
  • 
Ball: Nike RZN Black
  • 
Footwear: Nike Lunar Control 3
Golf Companies

Nike Golf – Nike, Inc. announces new president of Nike Golf

Nike-Vapor-Irons

November 8, 2014 – Nike, Inc. has announced that Daric Ashford will become new president of Nike Golf.

Daric Ashford is currently vice president, general manager of Jordan Brand for North America and is a 21-year Nike veteran. Daric has held senior management positions across retail and sales within the Nike brand. Jordan Brand is a subsidiary of Nike dealing primarily in basketball shoes and athletic apparel.

Keegan Bradley’s Jordan Brand golf shoes.
Keegan Bradley’s Jordan Brand golf shoes.

The American PGA Tour player Keegan Bradley has famously been testing and helping design a Jordan Brand golf shoe, in consultation with the company’s namesake and founder, one-time basketball player and full-time current golfer Michael Jordan.

While working in Jordan Brand, Daric Ashford has elevated the marketplace and brand through innovative merchandising, sales and marketplace strategies that deeply connect with consumers.

 

“Daric’s leadership has helped to deliver strong revenue growth and expand the Jordan Brand. His proven track record, along with his experience in global categories, makes him ideally suited to leading the Golf business,” said Jayme Martin, Nike’s vice president and general manager of Global Categories.

Effective immediately, Daric will report to Jayme Martin. Ashford replaces Cindy Davis, 52, who announced her retirement in October. Davis had led Nike Golf since 2008.

Golf Companies

Nike Golf – President of Nike Golf, Cindy Davis, retires

October 9, 2014 – Nike announced last 7th October that Cindy Davis, President of Nike Golf, plans to retire from the company. Davis joined Nike Golf USA as General Manager and has served as President of Nike Golf since 2008.

In a short communication, the company advised that Cindy Davis’s successor will be named at a later date, accompanied by some words fromJayme Martin, VP & GM, Global Categories:

“We thank Cindy for her leadership throughout the years as she has led the development and growth of Nike’s Golf Business worldwide. Under Cindy’s direction, Nike Golf has steadily delivered profitable growth year after year since 2009.”

Cindy Davis was promoted to President of Nike Golf on 12th of September 2008, to be responsible for driving market leadership and growth for all aspects of Nike Golf. Before that she spent three years serving as General Manager of Nike Golf USA. Prior to Nike, Davis was Senior Vice President at the Golf Channel and has held various senior management level roles at The Arnold Palmer Golf Company and the LPGA.

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It has been more than six years for the first woman acting as the highest executive of a major golf equipment company. During this period, Nike Golf’s sales have been relatively stable, with an income of 789 million Dollars for the fiscal year ended in May 2014, leaving the brand of the Swoosh well positioned in the golf industry. She was involved in contracting Tiger Woods when he was the Nº1 player in the world, and was a key figure in contracting Rory McIlroy, who occupies the first place in the world rank now when she is leaving the company.

Nike golf staff players who have won Majors under her presidency are Trevor Immelman (2008 Masters), Tiger Woods (2008 U.S. Open), Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open), Stewart Cink (2009 British Open), Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters), and Rory McIlroy (2014 British, 2014 PGA Championship).

Drivers, Equipment, Ryder Cup

Nike Golf – Rory McIlroy debuts with the new Nike Vapor Pro driver at the Ryder

Nike-Golf-Vapor-Driver-Rory-McIlroy

September 26, 2014 – Rory McIlroy, athlete of the Nike Golf staff, has added a flash of volt to his bag this week. The number one player in the world has debuted with a Nike’s new driver, the Vapor Pro at the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland. The visually bold driver is black on the crown, volt in the cavity back and Compression Channel, and produces a penetrating, tour-launch with low spin and added speed across the face.

McIlroy was influential in the development of the Vapor Pro. Like his Nike Covert Tour 2.0 driver, McIlroy wanted a 460cc pear-shaped profile, a shape that yielded awe-inspiring drives throughout his remarkable 2014 season. He also looked for stability and speed through added flexibility across the face.

“The first thing I noticed when I hit this driver was how hot it was,” said Rory McIlroy. “Then, I found that I could really control the flight and work it both ways on the golf course. I saw added ball speed on the monitor and am getting 10-15 yards more distance on the golf course this week.”

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The Vapor Pro driver blends three key technologies: Nike’s new FlyBeam reinforced Covert Cavity Back design, a re-engineered Compression Channel and FlexLoft 2. All of these are vital to the golf athlete in achieving the ultimate in hitting their window of distance, speed and launch conditions.

“To elevate performance, we added FlyBeam technology to the Covert Cavity Back to focus energy into the variable-profile Compression Channel and NexCOR face,” said Nate Radcliffe, Nike Golf Director of Engineering. “This is the first time we have created a driver where the face and channel are measurably more flexible than the body.” 

The FlyBeam construction stiffens the Covert Cavity in the back of the club, while the Compression Channel, with variable compliance, accentuates the spring-like effect across the face. Cohesively, the two work together to focus, store, and return impact energy to the golf ball for shots struck at all points on the face.

“This is the first time we have measured higher modal frequencies in the rear portion of the club than the front. This means impact energy is concentrated in the channel and face which tunes acoustics and maximizes energy transfer. This effect drives the increases in ball speed we are seeing in athlete and robotic testing,” added Nate Radcliffe.

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FlexLoft 2 allows the golf athlete the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings. The new, improved system is five grams (30%) lighter without compromising function. The redistribution of mass creates more stability, better launch conditions and faster swing speeds. Another benefit of FlexLoft 2 is its forward and backward compatibility. Golfers with previous generations of the Covert driver can use shafts with the original adaptor in the new head or vice versa.

The Vapor Pro driver will be available on 30th of January, 2015, with specifications of8.5° – 12.5° loft, RH/LH, Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Blue Board 60 shaft, R, S, X flex, and a MSRP of $479.99 in U.S.

DP World Tour, Tournaments, What's in the bag…

Nike Golf – Paul Casey’s arsenal to clinch the victory at the KLM Open

Paul-Casey-KLM-Open-2014

September 15, 2014 – Nike Golf staff player Paul Casey returned to winning ways with a scintillating victory at the KLM Open in the Netherlands, his first victory of the season.

The 37-year-old, who recently became a father, started the final round four shots adrift of the leader, but four birdies on the front nine erased the deficit, and he reached the turn in 32.The three-time Ryder Cup player had accelerated into contention on Saturday, when he fired a course record-equalling 62 at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort.

During that round, Casey showed his magnificent touch on the greens, with his Method 006 putter helping him to nine birdies. The 006 is the same putter used by World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who trusted it on his way to summer Major victories at the Open Championship and US PGA Championship.

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Casey started his final nine holes with four consecutive pars, before a monster drive on the par-4 14th, set up a pitch to the green that led to a another birdie, his 21st of the week.For impressive accuracy and control, Casey relied upon the Speedlock RZN Core technology found in the RZN Platinum golf ball.

Casey’s victory in the Netherlands was his 13th on the European Tour, with his last previous win coming at the 2013 Irish Open.

What’s in Paul’s golf bag?

  • Driver: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour (11.5°)
  • Fairway wood: NikeVRS Covert Tour #3 (15°)
  • Irons: NikeVRS Covert Forged (3 iron); Nike VR Pro Combo (split cavity) (4-6 iron); Nike VR Pro Combo Blade (7-PW)
  • Wedges: Nike VR Forged (52°, 56° and 60°)
  • Putter: Nike Method 006
  • Ball: Nike RZN Platinum
  • Footwear: Nike Lunar Control II