Neal Shipley turned a lot of heads when he took home the trophies for low amateur scores at both the Masters and U.S. Open this year. So it should come as no surprise that it didn’t take long after that stellar showing for the 23-year-old Ohio State alumnus to turn pro and line up a sponsor.
Eastside Golf, Mitchell & Ness Team Up for Line That Will Shake Up the Traditional Golf Market
Shipley wore performance pieces from the Jack Nicklaus Black Label and Blue Label lines, manufactured by Perry Ellis International, while still an amateur and has now signed on to be a global brand ambassador for the Nicklaus Companies, owners of the Jack Nicklaus and Golden Bear brands. As such, he will join his fellow Buckeye Jack Nicklaus in promoting the brand.
“Since I first picked up a golf club, it’s been my dream to turn professional and compete on the PGA Tour,” Shipley said. “I am incredibly fortunate to have the support of a partner like Nicklaus Companies at the start of my career, and I look forward to proudly representing and wearing the iconic Golden Bear logo for years to come.”
His pro career has gotten off to a good start as well with Shipley recording two top-25 finishes, including a sixth place finish at the ISCO Championship, in his seven PGA Tour starts this year.
“Neal brings a fresh approach to the game and we believe he reflects the spirit of the Jack Nicklaus brand and apparel collections,” said Philip Cotton, chief executive officer of Nicklaus Companies. “It’s been an exciting six months for Neal on the golf course and it has been a thrill for Nicklaus Companies to be on the ride with him. We are delighted to now have the opportunity to make the relationship longer term and are looking forward to working with Neal over the coming years. We plan to leverage our global network as well as the unique 8AM Golf platform, to help Neal succeed on his professional golf journey as he continues to reflect and help build upon the storied history of our Golden Bear and Jack Nicklaus apparel brands in professional golf.”
Tumi Signs Pro Golfers Nelly Korda, Ludvig Åberg as Ambassadors
Brad Holder, senior vice president of Perry Ellis , cited Shipley’s “ dedication to the sport, background and his already impressive accomplishments” which make him “the perfect ambassador for Jack Nicklaus Apparel. We look forward to supporting Neal as he continues to make his mark in the world of golf while representing our brand with pride and distinction.”
Andy O’Brien, president of Nicklaus Brands, said that although the Golden Bear brand has been around for more than 50 years, “having someone as dynamic and youthful as Neal Shipley represent our Nicklaus brands significantly enhances our reach and visibility, and resonates with a new generation of golf fans around the globe.”
The Golden Bear branded apparel that Shipley will wear on the PGA Tour will be available to consumers at select retailers, the Nicklaus Companies e-commerce sites and at Nicklaus Design golf courses.
Presidents Cup Uniforms Revealed
Most Popular
Comments / 0