PUMA Golf, an innovation and style leader in apparel, accessories and footwear, announced today that it has signed Ernie Els to a multi-year agreement as a global brand ambassador. As part of the partnership, Els will wear the brands footwear during his professional events.
Els brings his Major Winner credentials to a star-studded PUMA stable that includes fellow Tour professionals Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, Gary Woodland and Lexi Thompson. PUMA also sponsors many of the world’s leading football teams, players and motorsport brands.
Els will wear PUMA’s IGNITE PWRADAPT and NXT family of shoes on Tour. The PWRADAPT family of footwear features a cutting-edge traction system with 3-dimensional traction pods and responsive cushioning with IGNITE Foam, for the ideal blend of industry-leading technology, style, comfort and performance. A Comfort Construction mesh bootie replaces a traditional tongue for improved fit, comfort and support, while the PWRFRAME, an ultra-thin TPU frame, is strategically placed in high stress areas on the shoe’s upper for lightweight support and enhanced stability that golfers need to play well on all surfaces and slopes.
“I’m excited about this new relationship with PUMA,” comments Els. “I’ve been wearing their golf shoes since the start of the year and honestly I feel like it’s really been a factor in me catching some form of late. I just feel more grounded with these shoes, like it’s giving me a firmer foundation in my swing. What I also like is the shoe combines stability with lightness and comfort. That’s a tough trick to pull off, but the guys at PUMA have nailed it. I’m very happy to be part of the team.”
Ernie Els has 70 professional worldwide career victories to his name, including four Major Championships, two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Match Play titles. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. As a former World No.1, Ernie is one of the most prolific winners of his generation and the global reach of his victories is almost without parallel.
Away from the golf course, Els is admired for his business portfolio and philanthropic endeavors. In addition to his work as a golf course architect (Ernie Els Design), he has an acclaimed wine-making business (Ernie Els Wine) and a charitable foundation supporting youth golf in South Africa (The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation). Most personal, however, is The Els for Autism Foundation, which was established in 2009 by Ernie and his wife Liezl. The Foundation has since opened a state-of-the-art campus, The Els Center of Excellence, in Florida, with a local, national and global reach helping individuals and their families on the spectrum.
“We are honored to have Ernie wearing our footwear and representing our brand on Tour. He is an icon in the international golf world, with an exemplary career both on and off the course, and a huge global presence. We’re excited to welcome him to the PUMA family,” said Dan Ladd, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing, COBRA PUMA GOLF.
As part of this new partnership, Els will work with the PUMA team to help influence and design colorways and styles of future PUMA golf shoes. “I understand what golfers needs in terms of how a shoe can actively help you play to the best of your ability,” says Els. “It’s rewarding to be able to share that with a company like PUMA and to know that they’re going to create another golf shoe that has the looks and innovation to match the performance that a golfer craves.”
