Watney and Stanley sign for Nike

Nike Golf today announced that Nick Watney and Kyle Stanley have joined its Tour Staff. They have entered a multi-year agreement with the Swoosh and will represent Nike Golf in clubs, ball, footwear, glove, apparel, headwear and accessories.  

Nick Watney Joins NIKE

In a multi-year agreement, Watney will represent Nike Golf in clubs, ball, footwear, glove, apparel, headwear and accessories.  Most notably, Watney will be making his debut as a Nike athlete playing with the world’s first high speed cavity back driver, the stunning Nike VR_S Covert driver as well as Nike’s VR_S Covert fairway woods.  Rounding out his Nike Golf arsenal are the Nike VR Pro Combo irons, Nike VR Pro wedges and a Nike Method Prototype putter. He also will play with Nike’s new 20XI ball, featuring more RZN technology. On the body, he’ll wear Nike Golf apparel from its Tour Performance Collection and the new Nike Lunar Control II footwear.
 
A fan of the Nike brand since he was a child, Watney is thrilled to continue his career with the number one sports brand in the world. “I am excited to call myself a Nike athlete,” said Watney. “I am proud to wear the Swoosh because it’s the symbol of excellence across all sports and golf is no exception.”
 
In switching to exclusively play and wear Nike Golf products, Watney is making his first manufacturer change during his 10-year career as a tour professional.  The 31-year-old from Dixon, California, played golf at Fresno State University and turned professional in 2003 competing on the Nationwide Tour.  
 
Watney, who joined the PGA Tour in 2005, has since won five times on the PGA Tour with victories at the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 2009 Buick Invitational, 2011 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, 2011 AT&T National and the 2012 Barclay’s. With his most recent victory at the CIMB Asia Open, Watney has seven global career wins on his resume.  
 

Mark Thaxton, Global Director of Sport Marketing Operations for Nike Golf is equally excited about welcoming Watney to the Nike Golf family. “Nick is a tremendous athlete with a passion for sports and the Nike Brand.  He is a good, solid, consistent player and one of his main strengths is that he has no weaknesses,” said Thaxton.  "We are thrilled to welcome Nick to the Nike family.”

Kyle Stanley Joins NIKE

Making his debut as a Nike Golf athlete at the PGA Tour’s season opener, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Stanley will play with the world’s first high speed cavity back driver, the Nike VR_S Covert. Rounding out his Nike Golf arsenal are the Nike VR Pro Blades and VR Pro wedges.  He also will play with Nike’s new 20XI-X ball, featuring more RZN technology.  On the body, he’ll be wearing Nike Golf apparel from its Tour Performance Collection and the new Nike Lunar Control II footwear.

 An avid sports fan who grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, Stanley said it has always been a dream to be a Nike Athlete. “Nike is the most powerful sports company in the world,” said Stanley. “They want to have the best athletes on board and it’s an honour to be a part of that and represent them.”
 
As the top player for the Tigers for three years, Stanley enjoyed an illustrious collegiate career at Clemson University breaking 19 school records.  He was the first player to earn ACC Player of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year.  Stanley was also three-time first team All-ACC and two-time first-team All-America at Clemson.  A winner of the Ben Hogan Award, Stanley was also a member of the 2007 winning Walker Cup team during his amateur career.
 
After securing his PGA Tour card for the 2011 season, Stanley had a solid rookie year with four top-10 finishes.  He clinched his first PGA Tour win at the 2012 Waste Management Open after finishing second the week prior at the Farmers Insurance Open.  
 
“Kyle is a solid player with incredible talent,” said Mark Thaxton, Global Director of Sports Marketing Operations at Nike Golf.  “He’s a terrific ball striker with incredible confidence.  We know Kyle will shine as a Nike Golf athlete and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Nike family.