Adidas Apparel Goes on Extreme Tour

In what sounds like a dream golf assignment, two near-scratch players are being sent around the world this winter to courses with extremely hot weather to test clothing made by TaylorMade-adidas.

The "Wear in the World" tour, announced with some fanfare at the Adidas Golf headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., this week, will transport Lindsay Knowlton (3 handicap) and Josh Sullivan (1) to golf courses in Death Valley, the tip of South Africa, the southernmost part of Argentina, equatorial Bolivia, and Alice Springs, Australia—the world's hottest golf course, with temperatures reaching 122 degrees—to see if Adidas' various proprietary fabrics can, well, take the heat.

So much of contemporary golf enterprise is devoted to keeping the player absolutely dry and sweat-free during a round. Apparently Adidas willl go to hell and back to prove it. Adidas makes golf clothes with all kinds of high-technology bells and whistles, including the ClimaCool, ClimaLite and ClimaProof fabrics, which use lightweight, breathable CoolMax fibers to keep players cool and dry. The plan is to use different fabric applications for different micro environments; for instance, at super-dry Furnace Creek, in Death Valley, 214 feet below sea level, the players will don ClimaCool, with its mesh ventilation; at Bolivia's LaPaz Golf Club, altitude 10,800 feet, they will wear ClimaLite and FORMOTION, which includes outerwear with almost no friction or restriction; at Walker Bay in South Africa, they will put on ClimaProof, a highly weather-resistant fabric, because that resort presumably has some wind and moisture. And so on.

In addition to their promotional activities, the players will teach golf to locals, mountain bike on Bolivia's "Death Road," and go cage diving with sharks off the coast of South Africa. In case you're interested (and should they survive), they will be blogging about their adventures at wearintheworld.adidasgolf.com and Golf.com, as well as filing Twitter and Facebook updates. -- Woody Hochswender, Contributing Style Editor, GOLF Magazine

Rain Gear Being Used at 2009 U.S. Open

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Modern foul-weather golf apparel has almost as much technology built into it as a driver. Space-age fabrics make waterproof tops and pants breathable while keeping you dry. Here is a look at what many of the golfers at the 2009 U.S. Open will be wearing. (Click on any of the images for a closer look.)

  Nike Storm Fit Elite Jacket
 $200, nikegolf.com
 Also available in a long sleeve version ($300), this waterproof shell is lightweight and features seams that are completely sealed to keep water out. This top will be worn by Tiger Woods (left), Paul Casey and Stewart Cink.

Dry Joys Tour Rainshirt
$180, footjoy.com
With a two-year waterproof warranty, sealed zippers and Velcro adjustable cuffs, this top will be worn by Ian Poulter (right) and Adam Scott.

 

  Adidas ClimaFit Storm 3-Way Convertible Jacket
 $145, adidasgolf.com
 This jacket unzips to become a short-sleeved rain top or a vest, making it super
 versatile and ideal for golfers who play when it's chilly and when it's warm. This top
 will be worn by Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer (left) and Justin Rose.

Polo RLX  Elude Waterproof Jacket
$299, ralphlauren.com
Lots of pockets, all of which are sealed, make this hi-tech jacket extremely functional. It's fitted, but features plenty of stretch through the shoulders to allow golfers to swing freely. This is the top Luke Donald (right) wears.

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(Photos: Woods/John Biever/SI
Poulter, Kaymer/Ross Kinnard/Getty Images
Donald/Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Alex Cejka's Players Championship Clubs

After hitting all 14 fairways in the first round of the Players and shooting 66, Alex Cejka blistered TPC Sawgrass again Friday morning. He made six birdies and just one bogey en route to a 67 that required just 23 putts.

Here is a complete list of Cejka's clubs:

DRIVER:                   Callaway FT-5 (8.5°) with Oban 75X Devotion shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD:   Callaway Steelhead Plus 3+ (15°) with Oban 75X Devotion shaft
HYBRID:                  Adams Idea Pro Gold (21°)
IRONS:                    Callaway X-Prototype (3-PW) with True Temper DG X-100 Super light shafts
WEDGES:               Callaway X Forged (52°, 62°) with True Temper S-100 shafts
PUTTER:                 Rife Hybrid Two-Bar
BALL:                     Callaway Tour i

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TaylorMade to Acquire Ashworth for $72.8 million

The stock market may be more erratic than Phil Mickelson's putting, but TaylorMade-adidas Golf has decided that the time is right to make a deal. Today the company announced it is buying the Ashworth apparel company for $72.8 million, or $1.90 per share.

Ashworth is known for its classic lines for both men and women, and over the years the company has outfitted players like Fred Couples and Chris DiMarco. Ashworth was recently announced as the official outfitter of the 2009 Solheim Cup team.

Clothing by Adidas tends to focus on technologically advanced fabrics and performance, so the Ashworth brand could give TaylorMade-adidas a potent one-two punch in pro shops and golf specialty stores.

In a media release, Mark King, the president and CEO of TaylorMade-adidas Golf, said: "We are excited to bring Ashworth alongside our industry-leading TaylorMade and adidas Golf brands." According to the release, the deal should be finalized by the end of 2008.

Jackets that are British Open tested

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND -- Don't think of a rain jacket as a fashion statement. As the pros who braved the elements Thursday at Birkdale will attest, good foul weather gear is serious equipment and worth investing in. Here are a few things to think about:

1. Waterproof vs. Water resistant
When you get a waterproof jacket it should keep you dry in a steady rain and not allow any water to leak through. The zippers have flaps or seals that prevent water from seeping inside, and the seams inside the jacket will often be sealed as well. What you might be sacrificing is some breathability.

A water resistant top will usually be more breathable, but if you get caught in a long, steady rain you'll get wet. If you are playing in a light drizzle or a light rain, you'll stay fairly dry. On a hot summer day, a water resistant top will help you avoid feeling like a steamed clam.

2. Warranties
If you are looking to invest in a waterproof jacket, look for one that has a warranty. Many, including the tops listed below, promise to keep you dry with normal use for at least two years.

3. Wind resistance
Waterproof jackets should be windproof too, but many water resistant jackets are windproof these days as well. On a chilly day, having a layer that blocks the wind will make you feel a lot warmer.
Here are four rain tops that will keep you dry and comfortable for years to come:

Adidas ClimaProof Storm Full Zip ($240) Waterproof, seam sealed, two-way mechanical stretch with four-way stretch inserts, an internal drawcord, and two-year waterproof warranty. Right on Mike Weir (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
DryJoys Rainshirt ($180) Waterproof, stretch panels, seam sealed, adjustable waterproof cuffs and front zipper, scorecard pocket and two-year waterproof warranty.  Right on Scott Verplank. (Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
Nike StormFit Elite 1/2 Zip ($250) Waterproof, Velcro adjustable cuffs, sealed front zipper, limited lifetime guarantee. Right on K.J. Choi (Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
Polo RLX Elude Jacket ($395) Waterproof, seam sealed, full stretch, Vercro adjustable cuffs, two-way front zipper, hidden vents under the arms, back collar and yoke, scorecard pocket. Right on Tom Watson (Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)