Double victory weekend for Nike
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Nike athletes dominated the golf headlines this weekend by winning on both the PGA and European Tour.
England’s Ross Fisher and Russell Henley each secured their first wins this season at the Tshwane Open and Honda Classic, respectively. Nike athlete Rory McIlroy, who found himself in a sudden-death playoff with Henley in Florida, finished tied for second.
With the new VRS Covert 2.0 Tour driver and RZN Black golf ball in play, Englishman Fisher fired rounds of 66, 65, 67 and 70 for a 20-under-par total to clinch the win at Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate, the longest course in European Tour history at a staggering 7,964 yards.
The 33-year-old, who has recently switched into the Method 001 Prototype putter, was in scintillating form on the greens, notching an incredible 22 birdies and two eagles on his way to victory, his first in four years.
Later on Sunday, Henley also entered the winner’s circle after he birdied the 18th hole in a four-man playoff to capture the second PGA Tour trophy of his career.
“I was nervous, coming down the stretch,” he said. “I enjoy the rush, that’s why you play. It’s going to take awhile for this to sink in.”
Like Fisher, Henley also played the Nike RZN Black ball featuring innovative Speedlock RZN technology, designed to deliver more distance, better feel and a more consistent, stable ball flight into the wind. He used his Nike Method 006 putter to clinch the tournament with a two-putt for the win.
Fellow Nike athlete McIlroy played with the Nike Covert 2.0 Tour driver and Nike RNZ Black ball – a combination that he has described as “the best driver and ball combination I’ve ever had.”
Ross Fisher’s In the bag:
Driver: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour 8.5-degree (PX 7A3)
Fairways: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 3-wood 15-degree
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (3-PW)
Wedges: Nike VR Forged 47-degree, 54-degree and 60-degree
Putter: Nike Method 001 Prototype
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Apparel: Nike Tiger Woods Collection/Nike Tour Performance Collection
Footwear: Nike Lunar Control II
Russell Henley’s In the bag:
Driver: Nike VRS STR8-FIT 9.5-degree (Graphite Design HD-7X)
Fairway Wood: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 3-wood/15-degree and 5-wood/19-degree
Irons: Nike VR Pro Cavity (3-6); VR Pro Combo (7-9)
Wedges: Nike VR Pro 48-degree and 53-degree, VR Forged 59-degree
Putter: Nike Method 006
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Apparel: Nike Tour Performance Collection
Footwear: Nike Lunar Control II