It’s that time of year again. Clocks have been set forward an hour, the first flowers are blooming, March has given way to April and the Masters Tournament is getting ever closer. Sure, the tours have been running for a few months now, but the golf season doesn’t really begin in earnest until that first tee shot is struck on Thursday morning at Augusta. Everyone understands the importance of the Masters, hardcore followers and casual viewers included, but somehow the tournament continues to become a bigger occasion year after year.
A lot of that can be attributed to the influence of Jordan Brand, who has introduced sneaker culture to the Masters with NRG releases like the "Snake Pack" from 2019 or 2021's "Metallic Gold." But even major OEMs such as Cobra, Callaway and Golf Pride are joining in the fun now, picking up on the interest in exclusive merchandise among new players.
This year is no exception. Here are all the Masters-themed drops that caught our attention ahead of the 88th Masters.
Vessel 2024 Season Opener Collection
In case you haven’t heard, Carlsbad-based Vessel makes more than half of the bags you see on major professional golf tours. In the last few years, the brand is starting to come into its own thanks to collaborations with OEMs like TaylorMade and streetwear labels such as Fragment Design. To honor the first major of the season, Vessel designed two bags with premium vegan green crocodile leather and gold accents. Although the stand bag is already sold out, look out for a restock in May.
Golf Pride The Honorary Starter Limited Edition Grip
This limited edition grip from Golf Pride gets its name from a long-standing Masters tradition where past champions, or honorary starters, kick off the action on Thursday morning. Based in the golf-obsessed town of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Golf Pride also has a long history at the tournament, where 43 players have trusted the brand’s grips on their way to victory. This green and yellow MCC Plus4 model caters to players who prefer a more built up feel in the bottom hand. Each grip costs $13 USD and includes an azalea print microfiber towel.
Devereux Golf Southern Draw Collection
Alongside the “tradition unlike any other,” the indie golf apparel brand Devereux Golf has been releasing capsule collections for the last few years now to coincide with the Masters. This year’s has been cleverly named Southern Draw, and includes DVRX’s trademark soccer-style polos, plus t-shirts with graphics that take inspiration from Georgia wildlife. Most items are priced between $30 and $80 USD.
COBRA DARKSPEED Season Opener Driver
Over the last few seasons COBRA has been quietly making some of the best looking limited edition clubs and staff bags in the game. This year is no exception, as the brand has released a “Season Opener” edition of the new driver it launched in January. The COBRA DARKSPEED driver swaps out its stealthy all-black sole for an azalea design with subtle hints of green and yellow. You can purchase the driver for $650 USD in the standard or low spin version.
Happy Life Wood x Air Jordan Brand 9 Golf
For first time visitors and longtime pilgrims alike, Augusta National is an enchanting place where time appears to stand still. It’s also a place where craftsmanship is championed over efficiency, and to honor the first major of the season Jordan Brand tapped artist Happy Life Wood for a unique interpretation of the Air Jordan 9 Golf. With its wood grain textures, the shoes evoke early persimmon woods that were used by the first players at Augusta.
J.Lindeberg Tour Collection
Swedish sportswear brand J.Lindeberg always makes a point of outfitting its main man Viktor Hovland in cutting edge gear, and its bold prints ensure the Norwegian golfer never goes unnoticed. The Tour Collection offers the public a chance to shop the clothing that Hovland will take into battle beginning Thursday, April 11. Performance polos and mid-layers feature large azalea prints in black, white and pink, and the items are priced between $95 and $155 USD.
Precision Pro Spring Major NX10
If you ever get the chance to play Augusta National, this new rangefinder from Precision Pro could be the perfect tool to master your round. Not only will it measure distances up to 999 yards, but it also has a course map on its removable skin. The rangefinder costs $260 USD, but those who already own the NX10 model can also purchase the skin separately for $25 USD.
Seamus Golf Beer Cup Headcover
Regardless of who comes out on top on Sunday afternoon, you can always be sure that plenty of malted beverages will be consumed on the grounds of Augusta. Crafted in green vegan leather, this driver cover from Oregon’s Seamus Golf imitates the look of a freshly poured pint with its faux shearling lid. You can pick one up for $135 USD.
Azalea Edition Mizuno Pro 241 Irons
If there were ever set of irons that were too beautiful to put in play, it would be these limited edition blades from Mizuno. The public's first glimpse of the set was in December, and originally it was meant to be a Japan exclusive. However, after an outpour of demand, the brand rejigged its plan to introduce a global release, albeit without the official Masters stamping of the Japan version. Only 1000 sets were released worldwide.
Fujikura VENTUS Azalea Shaft
Shafts are a unique category in golf because most people don't choose one based on its looks. But when performance is a given, which tends to be case with Fujikura (over a third of all driver shafts used on the PGA TOUR are Fujikura), limited colorways begin to find their niche. The VENTUS Blue is a best seller among the Fujikura portfolio, and the brand gave it a metallic green makeover with pink azalea emblems and gold accents to salute the year's first major. Head to Fujikura's IG for information on its giveaway.
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