Nike Golf has announced a raft of new signings to its tour staff as the brand gears up to keep itself in the golfing public’s eye in the post-Tiger era.
With its star athlete over the last 20 years seemingly coming to the end of his career, the brand has pounced on a number of talented young players that it hopes will keep the Swoosh in lights over the coming seasons.
Headlining more than a dozen new names on Nike’s books is 25-year-old American Brooks, who is currently ranked 16th in the world. Although he only turned professional three years ago, the former Florida State golfer has already chalked up four professional victories, and quickly progressed from the Challenge Tour to the European Tour, before deciding to concentrate his efforts in 2016 on the PGA Tour in America.
Joining him in head-to-toe Nike equipment will be fellow American Tony Finau, who at 6ft 4inches will be one of the tallest players on tour this season. Currently ranked second in driving distance, Finau turned pro in 2007, and earned his card for the 2014-15 PGA Tour season after competing on the Web.com Tour. Last year he finished 14th the US Open and 10th in the US PGA Championship, and enjoyed five other top-10 finishes.
Nike also announced the signing of 12 other golfers, including Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who had a strong finish to the 2015 season, and the English pairing of Ashley Chesters and Tom Lewis.
In other equipment sponsor transfer news, reigning Open Champion Zach Johnson has left Titleist to join Parsons Xtreme Golf, a fledgling equipment company set up by internet entrepreneur Bob Parsons, founder of web hosting company GoDaddy.com. PXG, which focuses on the premium end of the equipment market, also announced several other key signings, including 2014 FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel, and fellow PGA Tour players Chris Kirk, Charles Howell III and James Hahn. It has also picked up three leading players from the LPGA Tour – Cristie Kerr, Gerina Piller, and Alison Lee.