Japanese sportswear retailer Mizuno closes a major golf sponsorship deal in the UK

Mizuno, one of the biggest Asian sports brands, has signed a multi-year title sponsorship with the Clutch Pro Golf Tour. The leading Open Access golf tour in the United Kingdom, which offers twenty-five events featuring the strongest line-up on the UK golf scene, will be renamed ‘The Mizuno Next Gen Series.’

Founder of the Clutch Pro Tour, Tom Hayward has stated he believes the Japanese manufacturer’s involvement will provide the means “to increase both the number and quality of events.” With Mizuno on board, he said, the tour will broaden the opportunities of the many talented players that look forward to extending their limits.

Alex Thorne, the outfitter’s Tour Operations Manager, acknowledged that Mizuno’s focus on emerging talent aligned with the purpose of the Clutch Pro Tour. The sponsorship means support to younger players in need of quality equipment and events to play, on top of increased prize funds to make ends meet.

The deal comes at a time of renewed interest from Mizuno toward young golfing talents. Besides funding the Pro Clutch Tour, Mizuno also expects to recruit a pool of young players through the competition. In 2022, the Japanese brand even announced its youngest tour team yet, including British Amateur Champion Joe Long. The 24-year-old Walker Cup star joined a long list of staff players sporting Mizuno golf apparel.

As of February 2022, half of the players that ever ranked world #1 had worn Mizuno equipment at some point during their careers. Therefore, the time is right for the Japanese sportswear brand to turn away from elite-level golfers and develop emerging talent instead.

Mizuno’s involvement in the golf scene, indeed, goes back decades. In 1971, the brand sponsored the Mizuno Open. One of the major golfing events in Japan, the tournament is now a gateway to The Open Championship for top finishers. Last week, it was Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent who made history with a comeback that defied all odds. Vincent won the brand’s flagship event with a set of Mizuno irons, securing a spot at the 150th Open.

Formerly known as the British Open, the Open ranks among the four men’s biggest golf tournaments. As such, the world’s oldest golfing competition is also a go-to event for sports bettors. And online platforms are the best way to find the most reliable bet sites in the UK. Indeed, experts have scoured the internet to rate the best betting sites and identify scams for punters to avoid. From a website’s operating license to the payment methods and bonuses on display, they review every aspect of a wagering website. What’s more, free betting tips on dozens of sports are just a click away. Thus, punters can safely bet on their favourite athletes and sports teams, including Mizuno’s own ambassadors.

Indeed, Mizuno has been very active marketing-wise in recent months. Apart from golf, the Japanese manufacturer landed several deals with prominent names in football. Mizuno had already signed Brazilian legend Rivaldo as early as 1999.

And this year, the brand went big again by partnering with Spanish superstar Sergio Ramos. The current PSG defender became the new face of the brand. Ramos will wear Mizuno’s Morelia Neo 3 on the pitch throughout the last years of his career.

The Japanese sportswear company also announced a sponsorship deal with the Lazio. Despite making this partnership with the Roman club public in February, few details had been revealed so far. Still, fans were eagerly awaiting a change after expressing frustrations over former sponsor Macron’s so-called dull designs. Italian newspaper Il Tempo eventually disclosed that Mizuno was planning on keeping the traditional Lazio colours next season.

These major deals prove that Mizuno has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1906. Since then, the brand’s popularity has soared beyond Japanese borders. Mizuno has long doubled down on diversifying its product range. From golf to football, and even boxing or basketball, the sportswear manufacturer has become a household name that can compete with powerhouses like Nike and Adidas.

Mizuno even launched a sportstyle collection, striking high-profile collaborations with artists such as Hajime Sorayama. The brand also made headlines for its socially conscious initiatives. The future is bright, thus, for one of the most innovative and sustainable sportswear brands in Asia and beyond.