Golfer Rory McIlroy wanted an understated and timeless style from Nike’s NKE newest on-course footwear creation, so that became the guiding light for the design of the new Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2, releasing April 1 for the mainline version with a special NRG Pack version around The Masters coming April 5.
“This shoe should look and feel like golf, but have the performance, function and comfort you would expect from your favorite pair of Nike shoes,” says Matt Plumb, Nike’s global product line manager for golf footwear. “The goal with the Victory Tour 2 was to infuse Nike-only technology in a more crafted form.”
The new Victory 2, designed with McIlroy, features a new one-piece, lightweight upper of full-grain leather and an internal strap stretching over the foot to lock it in while conforming to the foot. With ideas borrowed from the Air Zoom Infinity Tour, a Zoom Air unit is stitched directly to the upper instead of being set in foam and a full-length parabolic plate improves energy return and stability, a concept found in Nike running products. Nike React foam is also featured under the heel.
The hybrid outsole took data from McIlroy’s movements to combine traction with seven removable spikes. The outsole features two plates, a front plate with five spikes for traction and a two-spike heel plate for stability. A molded heel cup supports the foot.
“I loved seeing the technology that has been put into the shoe,” McIlroy says, “the full Zoom Air bag and React foam, the softness of the leather, it feels like a real premium golf shoe.”
McIlroy says the team started working on the design in spring 2019 and he saw a physical sample in fall 2019. “Everything we set out to create on paper made its way to reality,” he says.
Plumb says working with McIlroy is “fantastic” and he’s seen the golfer’s style evolve over time. “Rory does a great job providing clear feedback to not only the functional product needs around fit, ride and traction,” Plumb says, “but the style cues that are important to his overall look and persona.” The design includes three-line stitching details meant to mimic movement and speed.
The first time McIlroy played in the new shoes was at Bear’s Club in the fall. “I hit some balls on the range and went to the course and played nine holes before another session on the practice area,” he says. “Right out of the box the shoes were a great fit and really comfortable. I had no issues with traction. I felt like my feet were very much under control during the swing. As I walked, they felt just as comfortable as any of my Nike running shoes.”
The new Air Zoom Victory Tour 2, priced at $180, releases in the debut white and volt colorway on April 1 and then in white and black colorways on April 3.
To celebrate The Masters, the Victory 2 combines with an Air Zoom Infinity Tour and a special Air Max 90 G to show off recycled materials on the silhouettes in an NRG Pack. Throughout the collection, each upper uses a 100% recycled canvas for a raw look.
Plumb says that since 2018 at golf’s biggest moments Nike creates an NRG footwear pack to tell a story. “In the past, we have focused these stories on the location or something unique about the course,” he says, “but for this NRG Pack we wanted to focus on sustainability and utilize one of the largest stages in our sport to spark conversation.”
The Air Max 90, which will hit retail in early May, has additional recycled materials in the lining of the tongue, collar and insole and features a 100% recycled knit fabric. The speckled outsole uses Nike Grind rubber with at least 10% recycled content. The Air Zoom Victory 2 NRG adds Crater Foam in the forefoot, which features at least 10% Nike Grind. Both the Victory 2 ($200) and Infinity Tour NRG ($180) versions release April 5 for Nike members and April 8 to the full marketplace, the same day as the start of The Masters.
