Custom and limited-edition shoes allow players to show personality and team spirit at the Ryder Cup.
When you play golf in Paris, France – indisputably one of the largest designer fashion meccas in the world – you better dress the part. Golf footwear brands are pulling out all the patriotic stops by outfitting both the U.S. and Europeans in specially designed Ryder Cup shoes. Here are a several to keep your eyes on this weekend.
See Also: U.S. Ryder Cup Uniforms: United We Stand
The Gold Standard by Adidas
The limited-edition TOUR360 is inspired by the coveted Ryder Cup trophy itself. The shiny gold finish resembles the trophy’s top and the 10-cleated outsole takes on the appearance of the wood grain finish found on the trophy’s base.
Each pair comes with two sockliners featuring the flags from each team along with the final scores from every Ryder Cup since 1979. Laced version only. The shoe sells for $220, online only.
Nike’s Camo-Chameleon
Blend in, or stand out? It appears Nike is all-in on camo in France, which brings back awkward memories of the so-called, “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup at Kiawah in 1991. Who could forget a couple of the American players rolling into the Pete Dye course while wearing camouflage hats? (Calm down, fellas. It is just a few (not so) friendly golf matches.)
Anyway, Nike just dropped two new shoes in time for the Ryder Cup. Rory McIlroy will lace up the React Vapor 2 with Nike’s React foam cushioning, which first got its start on the basketball court last year. It appears Rory will get a PE version of the shoe with a translucent blue and yellow sole and a slightly different camo colorway than the retail version.
Nike also introduced a new cleated version of the Roshe G—the Roshe G Tour. It is available in several colorways, including this olive camo, which Nike calls NRG. Expect Tommy Fleetwood to slip these on.
Nike also released a camo colorway of the Tour Premiere, a shoe Brooks Koepka has favored this year. With all this camo, I guess it is safe to say Nike athletes will be hunting birdies at the Albatross Course at Le Golf National.
Under Armour’s Patriotic Spieth 2 Shoe
With input from Jordan Spieth, this next-generation shoe has Gore-Tex added and is 100 percent waterproof. There’s also a new, softer leather and smart-woven upper that is incredibly strong but lightweight.
This limited-edition red, white, and blue colorway not only shows off Jordan’s national pride, but it also highlights Under Armour’s latest technology. The red fibers in the heel area are woven directly into the upper and create a locked in feeling during the swing.
We’ll see if the new shoes help Spieth in his matches to retain the Cup, but in the meantime, you can find them on Under Armour’s website and elsewhere for $200.
G/FORE for Bubba and Phil
We sure hope Bubba Watson wears pants that show the full effect of G/FORE’s custom, all-USA Disruptor high-top shoe adorned in stars and stripes. G/FORE’s other ambassador, Phil Mickelson, will wear a custom Gallivanter style saddle shoe in red and white when he makes his record 12th Ryder Cup appearance. Don’t start searching for these exact shoes – custom means custom – but there are other colors to choose from on G/FORE’s website ranging from $225 – $250.
Puma Ignites Team Spirit
Puma’s version of a high-top shoe comes in the IGNITE PWRadapt model with USA colors. The knitted upper blends style and performance. The PWRframe, positioned in key areas, delivers additional support where needed. Available online for $200.
The other style comes in both USA and Euro colorways. The 42 Suede G is ready for streets and spectating. When you take a picture of the shoe with a flash, you’ll see a stars and stripes pattern on the formstripe of the USA shoe, and a star pattern on the Team Europe shoe. The sockliners are also decked out in team spirit. Online for $100.
FootJoy Walks the Line
FootJoy is using the Ryder Cup to highlight the power of its MyJoys program by customizing shoes for players on both teams.
The brand has created U.S. and European versions of its popular Pro/SL shoe in laced and Boa models. It is also hooking up Justin Thomas and Webb Simpson in custom Icons—a Shield Tip model for JT and a saddle for Webb.
In addition, FootJoy has created a MyJoys Contour Casual golf shoe with a full grain leather upper. It is waterproof, breathable and durable. There is red/white/blue with the Ryder Cup trophy for the U.S., and a similar design, but with a yellow accent color, for Europe.
Another style is the MyJoys Contour Classic, a more traditional golf shoe with Pulsar cleats for turf grip and walking comfort. It also features a full grain leather upper and is waterproof. FootJoy also offers the DryJoys Tour Golf shoe in white and in black with the gold Ryder Cup trophy emblem on the side heel.
I really liked the FJ shoes. The rest just seemed overdone and Bubba’s shoes were so incredibly terrible.