The 2025 golf season has officially kicked off and apparel brands are lining up to sign athletes to their rosters.
This week, Original Penguin named PGA Tour professional Max McGreevy as its newest brand ambassador, California headwear brand Melin signed Jake Knapp and Cobra Puma Golf signed Rickie Fowler, one of the game’s most-popular players, to a long-term contract extension.
Fowler has been a part of the Puma family for 15 years, signing with the apparel brand in 2009 and its sister brand, Cobra Golf in 2021. As a result of the extension, he will continue to wear Puma Golf apparel and use Cobra clubs on course.
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“The Cobra Puma Golf brands are like family to me,” Fowler said. “The clubs and apparel are as good as it gets and the fact that they know what I look for in fashion and style gives me extra confidence on and off the course. While their products are incredible, I also truly value all the relationships I’ve built here throughout my career. Extending this partnership was a simple decision and I’m excited to stay part of these amazing brands.”
Fowler, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour including the 2015 Players Championship, has been a five-time U.S. Ryder Cup team member and three-time member of the U.S. Presidents Cup team. He has also become known for his style including his signature Sunday orange looks that he wears on tour, a nod to his college, Oklahoma State.
“Rickie is a special talent who brings a competitive spirit and style to the game that we absolutely love,” said Dan Ladd, president of Cobra Puma Golf. “We’re very excited to keep him in the fold and watch how his career continues to develop.”
McGreevy, 29, will return to the PGA Tour this year after a strong season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024 where he finished second on the points list and won the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, holding off Hideki Matsuyama and Akshay Bhatia. He will wear Original Penguin as a brand ambassador, joining Knapp, Nico Echavarria, Mason Andersen and John Keefer.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Original Penguin as a brand ambassador,” McGreevy said. “Original Penguin’s mix of performance and style fits in perfectly with my approach to the game, and I’m thrilled to represent a brand that values tradition and innovation as much as I do.”
Brad Holder, senior vice president of marketing at Perry Ellis International, which owns Original Penguin: “Max has proven that he has the game to win and carries himself with confidence and style. His continued success on the course and dedication to his craft make him a perfect fit for the Original Penguin brand.”
While Knapp may wear Original Penguin clothes, he’ll be sporting a Melin hat since the San Clemente, Calif., based premium headwear company, signed him to a contract as well.
Last season, Knapp notched his first PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld.
“Our team put Jake on my radar a bit ago and as I’ve followed him on socials I was really drawn to his warm personality, dedication to his loved ones and his obvious passion for the game,” said Brian McDonell, cofounder and president of Melin. “We aren’t a golf brand, we just love to golf and like to surround ourselves with like-minded, competitive yet compassionate, high-integrity people and Jake really fits that mold. In getting to know Jake, he is just a really likable guy with an eye for fashion and incredible talent and work ethic. I love that his personal style is a bit more streetwear-inspired and we share a lot of common interests off the course, and he really vibes with our team. We are extremely fortunate to have the privilege of welcoming him to the Melin family.”
“I could not be more excited to partner up with Melin. I’ve been wearing their hats for a long time so joining the team was a no-brainer,” Knapp said. “The quality of the product is what spoke to me in the first place, and after getting to know the team and seeing what they have in store coming up, I’m super pumped to be a part of that future.”
Other Melin ambassadors include Ryan Sheckler, Steel Lafferty, Dylan Efron, Malcolm Stewart, John Hunter Nemechek, Michael Chandler, Louie Vito, Jordy Smith and Mark Healey.
