Graeme McDowell has found himself in the top three of GolfThreads’ Best Dressed List the last two years, thanks in part to his dapper threads, but also due to the fact that he is one of the few remaining players to lace up a proper pair of shoes. While microfiber uppers and sneaker-style shoes have found a home on the fairways in recent years, McDowell has maintained an elegant sense of style by slipping on (presumably with a shoe horn) ECCO’s iconic World Class model for years.
It should come as no surprise that the result of a year long collaboration between ECCO CEO Dieter Kasprzak and Graeme McDowell is a sophisticated signature shoe that blends classic craftsmanship, top-shelf materials and the latest technology. The G-Mac World Class Special Edition has been launched by ECCO in three classic colorways to celebrate the five year anniversary of McDowell’s U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach. The shoe was produced in a limited run of 284, McDowell’s winning score at the 2010 U.S. Open.
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“Combining trendsetting silhouettes, remarkably premium materials and advanced technologies, this is a luxury golf shoe in the truest sense,” says McDowell. “It perfectly complements my personal style and performance criteria.”
I was lucky enough to get an up close look at the G-Mac Special Edition during a launch event with Graeme McDowell at the PGA Merchandise Show back in January, and this is one beautiful golf shoe. Artisans at ECCO’s factory in Porto, Portugal, handcrafted it and it is accented with luxurious details. The premium leather outsole is imprinted with the G-Mac logo. That same logo is elegantly embedded into the stacked leather heel. The exterior of the shoe is completed with gold colored shoelace eyelets and metal spikes.
Yes, you heard me. Metal spikes. If that isn’t a total boss move, I don’t know what is. Don’t worry, though. A set of CHAMP Q-LOK soft spikes are included for those of you, who are not named Graeme McDowell, can actually wear these on your home course.
“Graeme is one of those elite players who desires a shoe that is classic in every aspect, all the way down to the metal spikes he’s worn since his days as a junior golfer,” says Kasprzak. “So, when someone purchases the G-Mac Special Edition, they have the option to choose between metal and soft spikes.”
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The technology that you can’t see on the G-Mac Special Edition is just as impressive as the aesthetics of the shoe. The GORE-TEX® waterproof construction, ECCO Second Skin full leather lining, and removable leather covered inlay sole with ECCO Comfort Fibre System™ that increases air circulation are just as impressive as the distinctive design.
The G-Mac Special Edition is now available at us.shop.ecco.com/Graeme-World-Class.html and finer golf shops throughout America.