Welcome to Spotted on Tour, where we’ll highlight buzzy apparel, gear, gadgets and more that caught our eye over the weekend. Better yet, we’ll help you get your hands on your own.
The completion of the Tournament of Champions means the new year in golf is officially upon us. With it comes a series of changes in the golf world, from the largest PGA Tour season ever to smaller, individual shifts among Tour stars.
Gear changes are commonplace at the start of each calendar year, particularly as club manufacturers begin to roll out their new line of equipment for the season ahead. Lots of players, from Xander Schauffele to Collin Morikawa, took last week’s Tournament of Champions as a test track for new setups. But no golfer made a bigger change than Jon Rahm.
Rahm showed up at Kapalua a brand-new man after signing a multi-year mega-deal to join Callaway’s Tour Staff. The deal means Rahm, who spent the majority of his career with TaylorMade, will now shift to a full bag of Callaway clubs and company insignia in tournament play. The deal binds Rahm to Callaway for years to come, and figures to make the World No. 2 one of the manufacturer’s most visible advocates.
Lost in the shuffle of Rahm’s major announcement with Callaway was another, equally noticeable gear move for the Spaniard. As part of his deal with Callaway, Rahm would be moving on to a new apparel outfitter: TravisMathew/Cuater.
TravisMathew/Cuater has become a major mover-and-shaker in the gear industry in the years since Callaway purchased a majority stock in the company. The apparel company (and its subsequent shoe/accessory offshoot) has built a reputation among players for high-end, dependable apparel.
Now, as they expand into the professional game, Rahm gives TravisMathew and Cuater a similarly colorful personality off which to base its pro line.
“At TravisMathew and Cuater, we couldn’t be happier to add an athlete of Jon’s quality to our ranks,” TravisMathew CEO Ryan Ellis said in a release announcing the move. “He plays golf with such confidence and is an all-around great guy to be around. He finished 2020 strong and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”
At the Tournament of Champions this weekend, Rahm debuted his first TravisMathew fits — a robust rotation of muted & vibrant attire to match the tropical atmosphere at Kapalua.
“I’m really pleased to begin the next chapter of my career as a part of this team with TravisMathew and Cuater,” Rahm said in a statement. “Everything TravisMathew makes is lightweight with stretch, providing a lot of comfort. I really feel confident playing in TravisMathew apparel and can’t wait to wear it off the course as well.”
Fans who wish to get their hands on some of Rahm’s TravisMathew apparel can do so through the GOLF Pro Shop. Above and below are a few editor’s selections sure to bolster your performance (or at the very least your fashion) for your next round on the course.
