Latest news with #Swoosh
Hypebeast
11 hours ago
- Business
- Hypebeast
The Next Chapter of Nike Golf Starts with Luke Clanton
Back in late January, there were signs thatNike Golfwas preparing to stage a comeback. AfterTiger Woods' long-term contract ran its course, questions began swirling about the Swoosh's staying power in the sport. But whenthe brand made a surprise splash at the PGA Show—unveiling an expansive and clearly expensive booth filled with apparel, shoes and larger-than-life banners—the golf world took notice. Sure,Nikeretained names likeScottie Scheffler,Tony FinauandNelly Korda. But who would carry the next generation? Who could bring both on-course results and, potentially one day, off-course presence? That's where Luke Clanton enters the picture. The 21-year-old Florida State standout has been a fixture on college leaderboards for the past few seasons, leading FSU through deep postseason runs and earning All-American honors in the process. With a compact, powerful swing and an undeniable maturity about him, Clanton has the skills to execute and the confidence to mix it up with the world's best players. Last summer he went on an unprecedented run where he finished inside the top 10 at consecutive TOUR events, the first time an amateur had done that since 1958. Now he's ready to turn pro as Nike Golf's newest signing (with an announcement video to boot). And while he may not be a household name yet, the partnership already feels meaningful. 'Like a dream come true,' he said of putting on the Swoosh for the first time at late February's Cognizant Classic. Weeks before making hisPGA TOURdebut at the RBC Canadian Open, Clanton sat down with Hypegolf to talk about the moment and what it means to step into the next chapter. How has it been over the last year or two balancing your journey through pro tournaments, college golf and academics? Yeah, I mean, I'll be honest I was kind of just going with it as it came. It was definitely new to me. Originally, we thought I'd have one PGA TOUR start after winning the Valspar Collegiate to get into Valspar the next year. Then, suddenly, I had 12 starts before that. So it kind of happened in a blur. Thankfully, the academic staff, coaching staff and everyone at FSU were a massive help. I was a bit lost in it all, but I had a great team behind me. Whether it was being away for a week and a half or jumping straight into a college event, the coaches made sure I was right—physically and mentally. At the beginning, I wasn't even thinking about a TOUR card. I just thought it would be cool to play in some PGA TOUR events. Then my agent came to me—I think I had four points at the time—and said we had a platform to actually get the card. I kind of laughed like, 'Well, we need 20.' And he goes, 'Yeah, we can do that.' So we started checking off boxes. By the fall, around RSM [Classic], I had my first real moment where I was like, 'Damn, I can actually contend in these events.' Getting the card at Cognizant, especially being so close to where I grew up, was just an unbelievable journey. So while the card wasn't part of the initial plan, did you always see professional golf in your future—even if the path was uncertain? In the beginning of my sophomore spring, I had only one college win and I was top 20 in the world, which was great—but my goal was just to play the best golf I could. Then I won three college events in a row that spring, and that boosted my confidence. I felt like my game was getting where I wanted it. But after losing Nationals [NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship] the way we did, I was crushed. The next week, I hadU.S. Openqualifying. I remember my mom driving me there, and I was still so down about Nationals. She looked at me and said, 'You gotta focus up. You've got three big things coming.' I ended up qualifying, and my first thought was, 'Holy crap, I'm in a major.' Then I shot 6-over in the first round. I thought I was done. Came back with a 1-under, made the cut, then shot another 1-under. Suddenly, I had a chance to win low amateur. I missed a five-footer on 18 to tie for it, so I was back to being disappointed. But the emotional rollercoaster of that week taught me a lot about expectations. Same thing at John Deere [Classic] and Rocket Mortgage [Classic]. I was contending, then frustrated not to win. But six months earlier, I'd have been thrilled just to play. Each week taught me more, and by my last start at Valspar, I felt like, 'I can win this.' I'm just trying to keep expectations in check while building confidence. After those big tournament moments, did you feel a shift in how you were seen by your college teammates when you returned to campus? Not one bit, and that was the coolest thing. When I came back after the summer, the first day of class, all the guys were there, and nothing had changed. We have a rule: no matter if you're a freshman or a senior, we treat everyone the same. That team chemistry has been so important for me. It keeps me grounded. They were obviously curious and asked how things went, but we were all still competing, all still trying to reach the same goal. You're with Nike now, but in the past you had the Good Good logo on your gear. You seem pretty tuned in to the creator community in golf. How much do you follow that space, and has it influenced you whether in mindset or social media? Funny enough, when I was 16, I DMedGarrett [Clarke]fromGood Good—back when he was still GM Golf and had maybe 100k followers—just saying, 'Hey, want to play 18 holes?' He replied, said he was in Miami, and we played. A couple months later, the whole Good Good crew came out to my home course, and I got to know them really well. I stayed in touch with Garrett and started learning about what they were doing creatively with YouTube. I think what they've done to grow the game is really impressive. A lot of people who don't watch the PGA TOUR are still watching golf on YouTube because of them. They've become a big business, doing charity events and more. Garrett helped me understand social media, helped boost my profile, and I'm really thankful for that. Playing in front of a camera is hard. It's a whole different thing. So having that experience early was super valuable. And tell me about the Nike partnership. How did that come about, and how does it feel to get to wear the Swoosh? I mean, yeah—just having the honor to wear the Swoosh has kind of been my dream growing up. You think about all the top players, all the top athletes in the world and they wear Nike. So when the opportunity came, it was incredible. I told my agent immediately, 'I'm in.' The first time I ever wore it was at the Cognizant Classic, and I remember putting it on that Thursday morning and thinking, man, this is a dream come true. Like, not only do I have a chance to earn my card, but I also get to wear Nike. I remember talking to my caddie that morning and just saying how thankful I was for everything that's happened in my life to even get to that point. It's really incredible to be a part of it. Have you gotten as far as thinking about what you're going to wear at certain moments? Is that something you're looking to take part in? A little bit, yeah. I'm definitely excited to see what Nike has coming in the future. I've actually never been a big fashion guy, which is funny to say now. But once I got signed and they started sending me some gear, I was like, damn, this is really cool. Now I'm learning every step of the way. Growing up, we didn't have much of that kind of stuff, so even just getting a nice pair of shoes or anything from the Nike store is incredible. I'm just excited to keep seeing what's next with them. And then building up to your first pro start in early June—just broadly, how are you feeling about it? What are you most looking forward to? I haven't thought about it too much, honestly, just because of everything going on with the college season. We've still got Regionals and Nationals coming up. It does creep into your mind sometimes, like when you're watching the PGA TOUR on TV and you see those guys out there. You want to be out there too. But right now, my one goal in college is to win a national championship with this team. We've been so damn close twice now. I'm super pumped for that first start at RBC, I really am, but it's hard not to stay locked in on Nationals. Once that last putt drops and hopefully we're holding that trophy, that's when I'll really start thinking about the next chapter. Until then, it's all about enjoying every moment I've got left here. Because I've got less than a month left on campus, and we're trying to soak it all in.
Hypebeast
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nike Adds Ventilation to the Air Max Sunder
Name:Nike Air Max SunderColorway:TBCSKU:IH3421-451MSRP:TBCRelease Date:2025Where to Buy:Nike Last fall sawNikebring back theAir Max Sunderin a big way, following up on in-line launches with a two-shoeKids of Immigrants collaborationthat was so successful it may see athird colorwayenter the mix this year. Carrying over this momentum, it seems like the Swoosh has completely opened the floodgates as 2025 has seen the brand show no signs of slowing down its output of Air Max Sunder releases. Adding to the lineup of launches to come, one that already has a'Blue Camo'colorway hitting shelves this week, a new version of the sneaker sees it sport additional ventilation at its upper. Cut-outs run throughout the uppermost layer of the shoe, revealing its orange mesh base. The revamped zip-up shroud is seen in a rich blue gradient here, combining with dark gray and blue detailing at the mudguard and sole unit. At the time of writing, Nike has not yet announced when this ventilated rendition of the Air Max Sunder in blue will be releasing. Stay tuned for updates as it is currently expected to drop in Japan on June 13, with a stateside launch likely to follow shortly after via Nike SNKRS and select retailers, likely costing an amount around the model's typical $180 USD price point.
Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
First Look at the Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low "Triple White"
Name:Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low 'Triple White'Colorway:White/WhiteSKU:IB0018-100MSRP:$150 USDRelease Date:Fall 2025Where to Buy:Nike Kobe Bryant's legacy goes on with the Swoosh as fans are given a first look at an upcomingNike Air Force 1 Lowrelease. The classic low-top silhouette receives the Mamba treatment in 'Triple White,' giving a clean and crisp look to the everyday sneaker. The shoe is dressed from head-to-toe white and is constructed out of a premium snakeskin-textured leather upper. Continuing to pay tribute to the late basketball legend, his jersey numbers 8 and 24 are stitched in white thread at the heel. The reveal comes after a pair of AF1 Lows appeared in'Court Purple'. Adding to the details is the sublte Kobe Sheath logo stamped on the lateral heels to give it one more nod to the Mamba Mentality. Look out for the pair arriving in the coming months.
Hypebeast
6 days ago
- Business
- Hypebeast
Better Gift Shop Reveals Debut Nike Collaboration With Air Max DN8
Summary Toronto's renowned boutique,Better Gift Shop, is teaming up withNikefor a highly anticipated collaboration on theAir Max DN8, marking Better Gift Shop's inaugural project with the Swoosh and the first Air Max DN8 collaboration since the model's Spring 2025 debut. The sneaker, boasts a striking design featuring white, grey, and blue tones, with a gradient mesh base that darkens towards the heel. It includes subtle icy blue accents on Nike's mini Swoosh and lace loops, while the tongue proudly displays Better Gift Shop branding. The shoe is equipped with a full-length Dynamic Air midsole for enhanced cushioning, paired with a black and blue outsole. This collaboration is poised to be a significant release for sneaker enthusiasts, capturing urban creativity while honoring Nike's futuristic design DNA. While no official price has been announced yet, the Better Gift Shop x Nike Air Max DN8 is expected to launch sometime in 2025 via Better Gift Shop'sonline storeand in-store and potentially select retailers.
Hypebeast
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nike Drops Dover Street Market Specials Capsule Collection
Summary NikeandDover Street Marketare releasing a 17-piece capsule collection. The upcoming Nike x DSM Specials drop features the DSM Hut Logo and Swoosh lock up by Rei Kawakubo and marks the second collection for the two brands. The capsule features an array of sportswear-focused staples from the Swoosh, including exclusive fleece hoodies, sweatpants, crewnecks, and t-shirts in grey, black, burgundy and navy with an additional t-shirt in white, each piece features the co-branding. Marked as staples for the wardrobe rotation, the drop sees Nike's premium fleece become a part of everyday wear, fit for the transitional weather. The collection dropsonlineand at Dover Street Market stores worldwide on May 29 with pieces ranging from $60 USD to $135 USD.
