Solar Day Purple has unveiled Tiger Woods’ Pioneer Cypress shoe.
Garrett Byrum/Solar Day Purple
From the second Tiger Woods confirmed as much as the 2022 Masters, his first official occasion again after a February 2021 automobile crash, with out his signature Nike golf footwear, we knew one thing was coming.
Tuesday, it lastly got here as Woods’ new golf-apparel model Solar Day Purple launched its first retail golf shoe, the Pioneer Cypress, designed from the prototypes Woods has been sporting on the course throughout the 2024 season.
In all, almost 20 prototypes went into the design course of to create a shoe for Woods, who began placing them into play on the Genesis Invitational in February, the identical week the Solar Day Purple model was introduced at a much-ballyhooed launch social gathering in Los Angeles. One other casually-styled spikeless golf shoe was displayed at that launch social gathering, however that product has but to hit retail.
Solar Day Purple Govt Artistic Director Charley Hudak mentioned the design staff took an strategy specializing in 4 pillars — match, consolation, efficiency and elegance — to create the Pioneer Cypress particularly for Woods, arguably essentially the most demanding and specific golfer on the planet. Hudak couldn’t say precisely when the design course of began, however the typical course of is greater than two years.
“It was clearly like a Blue Sky mission the place, you understand, we simply needed to fulfill one particular person and our mentality was like if we are able to fulfill that particular person, we’d fulfill your entire Neighborhood,” Hudak mentioned. “Constructing from these 4 pillars, we set to work with [Woods’] physio, his coach and, we did all of the analysis and acquired him going via the rehabilitation course of on the similar time.”
Hudak mentioned this was the primary mission he ever labored on the place there was no goal worth level.
With match and luxury being key, and Woods’ public struggles merely strolling 18 holes, designers created a shoe that isn’t board-lasted, utilizing a extra trendy, athletic building that makes the design extra versatile. The extra versatile building can be why Solar Day Purple claims the shoe requires no break-in interval
In addition they created a shoe that’s decrease to the bottom, which Hudak mentioned is vital for steadiness and stability. The shoe’s traditional silhouette additionally added to the general stability due to a wider base.
“We had been beneath the impression that we had been gonna do athletic [look], nevertheless it was his name. He wished extra traditional,” Hudak mentioned. “We talked about a few of his outdated footwear that he wore and one among his issues was that they weren’t assembly his standards and I believe that’s type of one of many massive the explanation why the chance to work with him took place.”
All through the shoe are refined nods to Woods, corresponding to a few of his signature motivational phrases — “Do the work” and “Put within the time” — on the underside of the sock liner. The underside of the outsole additionally options tiger-claw patterns, in addition to a tiger-stripe sample on the again of the heel.
The Pioneer Cypress will launch solely on SunDayRed.com on Dec. 4 in 5 colorways and a with a two-year waterproof guarantee. The primary three, Black/Silver, White/Silver, and Gray/Navy, will every be obtainable for $250. The opposite two, Black/Purple and White/Purple, shall be limited-edition choices for $275 as Woods’ private favourite colorways with a pink outsole and different pink element hints.
