Masters 2019: Augusta-themed shoe designs are must-see this year

Masters week, for my money, is the greatest time of the sports year. Many of the major apparel and shoe manufacturers feel the same way, rolling out new designs to spike sales around the first major. Adidas, Nike and Under Armour are off to an early start with some must-see new shoe designs.

The Masters always feels like the start of something fresh. It doesn’t matter where you are, when you hear those opening strains of “Augusta” by Dave Loggins, or Jim Nantz’s welcoming “hello, friends”, you can almost smell the azaleas in bloom, and taste the pimento cheese…you know, if that’s your thing. The sky looks just a little more blue, the grass a little more green. And with the start of a new season, nobody ever turned down a fresh new wardrobe, either.

What does the Masters have to do with wardrobe, you ask? Well, golf style is just as important as the game, especially when it comes to how the top pros will look at Augusta National. And the first major of the year gives companies a chance to roll out some great new looks on their pro staff. The spotlight is never brighter than it is at the Masters, making it a perfect opportunity to dress these guys to the nines.

The other day, we got a sneak peek at the scripting for what Tiger Woods will be wearing at this year’s Masters, and it felt like the ultimate shot-call. Under Armour has released the outfits for Jordan Spieth, and Adidas has sent out the scripts for their stable of pros, including Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Xander Schauffele. Puma will even have Rickie Fowler wearing a camo-inspired shirt featuring sublimated images of Georgia and the United States.

However, one underrated aspect of Masters scripting has always been the shoe game. Pros are known to be a little bit hesitant to change up their kicks, as they fall more into the equipment area than their clothes do. That doesn’t mean they can’t have a little bit of style, though, and Augusta-themed spikes really complete the look.

Nike is releasing five separate models for their staff to choose from, each featuring a pair of Masters-themed design elements. First, they utilize a green (of course) snakeskin texture, which the company states is “giving its athletes the confidence to grab the snake by the head and take the tournament into their own hands.” The inner liner also features a pair of praying hands, a clear nod to Amen Corner. Whatever the marketing lingo is, they look absolutely fantastic.

While Nike has long been known for their shoe game, I’m personally looking forward to the latest release from Adidas. One of the greatest things that patrons of the Masters get to enjoy (in excess) is the Georgia Peach ice cream sandwich. Literally the best two bucks you can spend at any event anywhere on the planet, it’s an iconic treat available to a hungry world only during Masters week. Not one to miss on an opportunity like this, Adidas’s new kicks are designed with this legendary concession in mind.

With soles that look like sugar cookies and a cream-and-peach upper, these shoes look good enough to wear year-round. Oh, and that liner? Yeah, those are scoops of Georgia Peach ice cream on the inside. I’m getting hungry right now. With an MSRP of $170, they’ll certainly fly off the retail and e-commerce shelves as quickly as they can get stocked. (Author’s Note: this isn’t a sponsored post, but I wouldn’t turn a tester pair down…just saying.) Check it out.

https://twitter.com/adidasGolf/status/1111310456952508418

https://twitter.com/adidasGolf/status/1111665643584016384

And it wouldn’t really be the Masters if we didn’t cover Jordan Spieth. While he’s never been known to rock particularly flamboyant gear on the course – think lots (and lots) of navy and gray – his shoe game will be absolutely on point for Augusta.

The special-edition Spieth 3’s from Under Armour will feature pops of pink on the upper and spikes to call back to the course’s famed azaleas, and a pine-straw liner on the inside. The most subtle feature: the blue sock liner (around the ankle and heel area) has an image of the scoreboard from the 2015 Masters, when Spieth shot a record-tying score of 18-under.

The Spieth 3 shoe is already available at $200, but a release date for this custom colorway hasn’t yet been announced. You can be sure it’s coming soon, though, as the apparel giant won’t want to sit on this for long. Masters week, and really all of early April, is one of the biggest buying times of the year in the golf industry, and special edition gear like this is always in ridiculously high demand.

You’ve heard of “look good, feel good”, but these companies and players are banking on “feel good, play good” as they vie for the coveted Masters green jacket. Which kit is your favorite? Let us know what you think, and we’ll have more from Augusta National – on and around the course – as we get closer to the event unlike any other.