The Loop
Tiger and his prototype Nike Free golf shoes
Tiger Woods is wearing prototype Nike Free golf shoes at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this week, a shoe of which he was involved in the development.
Woods has been working out with Nike Free shoes that he also has been wearing outside the gym and sought a shoe with Nike Free technology that could be worn for golf.
Tobie Hatfield, one of the directors of Nike's Innovation Kitchen who helped developed the original Nike Free shoes, developed the prototype golf shoe that allows for greater freedom of movement for the front of the foot, while increasing stability. The golf shoe also borrows technical innovations from the Nike Basketball Hyperfuse 2011 as well as a Free-inspired outsole taken from the Special Field Boot designed for the military.
The end result is a shoe that is lightweight and flexible.
Woods has them in two colors, black and white, and will wear both at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, this week.
-- Marty Hackel
Follow Marty on Twitter: @MrStyleMH