Puma has "teamed up" with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation to "create limited-edition umbrella logo footwear and accessories," according to Golf Channel's George Savaricas. Golfers Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau are "sporting the special gear this week" at the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, which teed off today. Golf Channel's Todd Lewis noted DeChambeau is "wearing custom-designed shoes by acclaimed artist Roland Padron that will pay tribute" to Palmer, and Fowler "will wear specially made gear by Puma with the iconic umbrella on that gear." Both players also have the "iconic umbrella on their golf bags." DeChambeau said, "It's really cool to wear the umbrella symbol ... and it's a really cool representation of what Mr. Palmer created in his life." Meanwhile, Lewis noted Fowler "signed a limited amount of Puma gear, and that gear was sold with all of the money going to the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation" ("Golf Central," Golf Channel, 3/5).
MORE THAN JUST A TOURNAMENT: MORNINGREAD.com's Gary Van Sickle writes the "best thing" about this week's tournament is the branding. There are "so many reminders, down to little details, that this tournament is part of a much bigger picture, the Arnold Palmer legacy." Four banners in the media center "feature old photos of Palmer in action, each one with a different memorable quote from him." Tournament sponsor MasterCard also has "taken its name out of the event's official logo." It is now the Arnold Palmer Invitational "presented by the image of red and gold intersecting circles, MasterCard's recognizable-if-not-iconic logo, instead of the actual corporate name" (MORNINGREAD.com, 3/7).
