The first high-profile exit of 2024. Tiger Woods and Nike? No, no. It was Jason Day. The 36-year-old golfer had said goodbye to his $100 million partnership with Nike in the first week of January and signed with Malbon Golf. But how did it all start for the two partners? Well, look no further, as Stephen Malbon himself divulged the details of how this move came to be. And it all came about thanks to Tony Finau and Cameron Champ.

“That came from like Tony [Finau] and Cameron Champ’s manager,” revealed the company’s founder in an interview with JR Smith on the new episode of his Par-3 Podcast. He further divulged how it all went down during a conversation with the two professionals, as he was checking the situation with them and Nike. “They’re like ‘We’re locked in,'” said Malbon as he recounted his talk with the duo, ” ‘But you should talk to Jason.’ And I’m like, ‘Jason Day? Damn! Really?'”

Was he taken aback by surprise? You bet he was! Who wouldn’t want a former No. 1 golfer to join hands with them? Even so, the founder was skeptical of his chances as he recalled his reaction, “Like I don’t know, I don’t know… Because this motherf**ker dresses fitness. You know, like, he dresses like Nike dry fit, like, performance guy, and like, I can’t imagine going from that look to, like, letting, you know, Luke on my team dress him.”

What happened after that is known to many in the golfing world. He agreed to change his style, and as a result, gained a lot of flak for it. From the Masters at Augusta National, where he was asked to take off his vest, to the Open at Royal Troon, Jason Day became the focal point of criticism for many fans, all thanks to his choice of attire.

At the final major of the season, many commented on the golfer’s choice of clothing. One person said, “When I saw his outfit, I knew he’d be terrible today; you can’t golf in that!” Another enthusiast was a bit more sarcastic in their response, as they commented, “We have spotted the majestic and rarely seen snow leopard. What a marvelous creature. Oh, wait, that Jason Day in hideous outerwear.” But all of this seems to be the last thing in Day’s mind as he gets on the greens to dish out his best!

Jason Day divulges his thoughts on Malbon Golf

“I think it’s fine,” conveyed the 36-year-old athlete when asked about the attention his dress was receiving at the Augusta National. “They’re very comfortable. It feels like I’ve got nothing on, really, to be honest.” Despite his comfort, the athlete was asked to follow the iconic course’s dress code and change his clothes. While taking off his vest, he expressed, “Respectfully, you do that because it’s all about the tournament here, and I understand that. I respect the tournament. That’s what we’re here to do: try and play and win the green jacket.”

You might think that such an incident would make him despise Malbon Golf. Well, you guessed wrong, as he later on revealed what happened without any worries: “I wasn’t trying to do anything. They just scripted me in it, and I was wearing it.” Unbothered by criticism, the athlete was able to card four top-10 finishes this season on the PGA Tour. And he hopes to have an even better year next season while partnered with the clothing brand!