Now a Nike driver!

Duval's first win with new club

Bob Warters's picture
Wed, 14 Nov 2001
Now a Nike driver!
Duval and driver in action.
Look out for the first appearance of a Nike driver in the shops early next year.

The club - which helped David Duval win the Dunlop Phoenix title in Japan at the weekend - is due to be launched at the PGA of America Trade Show in Orlando in January and could be shipped into the UK by May.

The World No.3, and current Open champion, has switched from the Titleist 975 driver, which brought him so much success, to test the prototype Nike club in recent PGA Tour events. He first put the club in his bag at the US PGA in August.

He shot to the top of the statistics in driving distance that week and led the field in driving at the NEC Invitational and Tour Championship, too.

He has led the long-driving stats in three PGA Tour events since and says he has increased his average driving distance in by more than 18 yards, from 294.1 yards to an average of 316.6.

The driver has a 275cc head and is made of forged Beta Titanium and Stuart Cink has also been signed up to play the range of clubs.

Duval, who has been using prototype Nike irons throughout the season, has worked closely with Tom Stites, chief designer for Nike Golf’s club development , to create a forged Titanium driver that he says gives him unparalleled distance.

Duval and Dunlop Phoenix trophy.

"I’m really impressed by this new Nike driver," he says with a broad grin. "In a short period of time, Nike was able to make a driver for me that I’m hitting farther than any driver I’ve ever played."

Nike Golf plans to launch its golf club line publicly in Florida on January 25, 2002 and Duval is expected to be on their stand to promote it.

No price has been revealed for the new clubs yet, but with millions having been spent on irons and metalwood development by Nike, expect to pay a premium for the top-of-the range models.

We're probably talking at least £1,000 for a set of eight or nine irons and £500 for the driver.