Saturday, April 25, 2026
FOS Expands to TV More Details

How Golf Apparel Companies Pull Off Unauthorized Masters Merch

Due to special restrictions unique to Augusta National, golf-apparel brands have to get creative to give their spring lines and collections a Masters-themed feel.

Apr 10, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jason Day plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Masters will bring in more than $70 million in merchandise sales next week at Augusta National—but its impact on the entire golf-apparel industry goes far beyond that.

From first-time Masters participants to past champions, dozens of players at Augusta will be wearing all sorts of flowery prints and shades of green and yellow, as clothiers look to capitalize on the start of springtime golf.

LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau will be hard to miss, wearing Reebok’s new Nano Golf Azalea shoe, which the brand describes as having “vivid pink hues and floral touches on the outsole.”

PGA Tour winner Jake Knapp and amateur Fifa Laopakdee will be outfitted by Johnnie-O. Playing off the famous pink flowers that are synonymous with Augusta National, the clothing brand is one of many companies rolling out some version of an entire Azalea-inspired collection this year.

At the official tournament merch shops, much of the clothing is part of the official Masters Tech line. Only a few select top-tier brands get to partner with Augusta National to produce apparel sold on-site. And even those selections don’t include obvious logos—Peter Millar’s Masters polos have the brand name written only in small print inside the collar.

With the special restrictions not seen at most other tournaments—fans can buy countless polos and hats from Nike, Adidas, and others adorned with PGA Championship or U.S. Open logos—golf brands have to get creative to give their spring offerings a Masters-themed feel.

Reebok / Johnnie-O

Flowery prints and pimento-cheese sandwich artwork are prevalent in Johnnie-O’s collection, and commonly seen in other Augusta National–themed offerings, such as Callaway’s new Patrons Welcome line, which homes in on the unique phrasing for Masters fans. Puma has the 30904 Collection, a nod to Augusta’s Georgia zip code. Popular golf podcast No Laying Up has The First Major collaboration with apparel brand Rhoback.

“Any kind of affiliation with the tournament instantly gives a brand cachet and a sense of class and dignity,” John Sabino, author of The Augusta Principles: Timeless Business Lessons from the World’s Premier Golf Club, tells Front Office Sports.  

Sun Day Red, the brand launched in 2024 by Tiger Woods and TaylorMade, this year opted for a Spring Traditions line—polos with a Georgia-peaches print, and shoes with floral accents—after last year offering an Azalea Gold Collection.

But not every company leans as overtly in to the Masters mania.

“We don’t want to go and do the tee and do the pin,” Dunning Golf creative director Omar Jermaine tells FOS. “To me, it becomes something that’s not inherent to the brand and not true to the brand.” 

Dunning, which will have Russell Henley and Michael Kim sporting its apparel at the Masters, prioritizes simple green and yellow colors in its Clubhouse Collection to celebrate the April festivities.

Many major sports-apparel makers like Adidas and Nike take a similar approach to Dunning, choosing Masters-themed colors over giving a specific line an Augusta-themed name. Fans won’t find Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, or Ludvig Åberg sporting egg-salad sandwich logos.

Similar to Reebok, Under Armour has a spring-themed limited-edition colorway of its Drive Pro Clone golf shoe, which will likely be worn by Masters winners Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson in Augusta, as well as fellow UA ambassador Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. 

But even using a Masters-esque color palette can be a delicate line to walk: Augusta National owns a trademark for the specific shade of green (Pantone 342) used on the Green Jacket that Masters winners receive. In 2017, the club sued an auction company that was selling official Green Jackets.

“Companies have to be very, very careful because Augusta’s been very strict about protecting their brand,” Sabino says.

So, while affiliating with the Masters in whatever way possible is almost always good for business, there’s always a delicate balance at play.

“We want to make sure there’s nothing that is too close to our friends at Augusta National,” says Johnnie-O SVP Dave Neville, who adds that the company’s ecommerce sales have spiked 30% since launching this year’s Azalea Collection. “It’s challenging.”

That challenge was especially evident last year, when Jason Day had to have his Malbon Golf apparel approved by Augusta National after being asked to remove a vest he was wearing at the Masters in 2024. But company founder Stephen Malbon told FOS at the PGA Show in January he didn’t think Day’s Masters outfits this year—themed around the birds of Georgia—would garner any complaints from Augusta National.

The Masters begins April 9 with a projected field of 93 players competing for more than $4 million—and the coveted Green Jacket.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nick Wright

Nick Wright Sounds Off on Off-Air Beefs, On-Air Chemistry

First Things First was recently nominated for its first Emmy.
Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza speaks to the media at the 2026 NFL Combine.

Fernando Mendoza Will Arrive in Unique Raiders Situation

The top pick enters the league with high intrigue and higher expectations.
Sep 25, 2025; Bethpage, New York, USA; Jim Furyk coaches on the eighteenth green during a practice round of the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Bethpage Black

Jim Furyk to Lead U.S. Ryder Cup Again After Tiger Woods Withdraws

Woods was considered the frontrunner before his DUI arrest in March.

Job Postings Paint Picture of Cal’s New Content Venture After Layoffs

The laid-off employees were encouraged to apply to the new content studio.

Featured Today

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 25: Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever sits on the baseline and makes photographs during the Indiana Pacers game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Why Athletes Are Moonlighting As Sports Photographers

Athletes are swapping courtside seats for sideline cameras.
Quinnipiac women's varsity rugby
April 21, 2026

The Death of Quinnipiac Women’s Varsity Rugby

The sudden decision at Ilona Maher’s alma mater left players blindsided.
April 17, 2026

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Masters Gnome
April 13, 2026

Masters Gnome Sells for Record $28K As Collectible’s Future in Doubt

An original 2016 edition of the Masters gnome was just auctioned off.
April 20, 2026

Nike Competitors Pounce On Boston Marathon Ad Stumble

The company took down a display that read “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated.”
Sponsored

Why Brandon Marshall Bet on Athlete-Owned Media

Brandon Marshall on athlete media, life after football, building I AM ATHLETE.
April 1, 2026

Nike Down On Earnings Amid Longer-Than-Expected Turnaround

Analysts see signs of progress but warn the recovery is going slowly.
March 26, 2026

Masters Gnome Craze Reaches New Level As Presales Hit $1,500

The frenzy around the popular souvenir item continues to grow.
Jun 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Fanatics chief executive officer Michael Rubin attends game three of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
February 20, 2026

Can One Patriots Fan Spur Fanatics to Change?

“I’m hoping that one meeting can lead to another meeting and another meeting.”
February 19, 2026

Nike Relaunch of ACG Is Bid to Catch Up in Outdoor Boom

Nike’s sub-brand, which stands for All Conditions Gear, originally debuted in 1989.