By Leonard Finkel
AHEAD unveiled its newest caps in the Jack Nicklaus Majors Collection, just in time for this week’s U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills. The new collection, formed by AHEAD in partnership with the Nicklaus Companies, was launched earlier this spring with a series of four caps as a tribute to the game’s most decorated champion and the winner of a record 18 major championship titles.
The caps debut in two styles—red and blue—emblazoned with the United States flag and the numeral “4” on the side, symbolic of the record-tying number of U.S. Open titles won by Nicklaus. The Golden Bear’s U.S. Open victories came in 1962 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, 1967 at Baltusrol (N.J.) Golf Club, 1972 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links, and 1980, again at Baltusrol.
In 2012, the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) renamed the U.S. Open championship medal after Jack Nicklaus. The Jack Nicklaus Medal, presented each year to the champion, incorporates a silhouette of the four-time U.S. Open winner. In 2015, the USGA Museum added a Jack Nicklaus Room—only the fifth person in golf history to be honored with a named room at the museum.
“As excited as we were when this collection was introduced in April, we think these new styles make a great addition that will be as or even more popular than the initial launch,” said Andy O’Brien, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Licensing for The Nicklaus Companies. “We are also proud of the collaboration with AHEAD to have the sales from the Nicklaus Majors Collection benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Healthcare foundation, which supports the advancement and enhancement of pediatric health care both locally and globally.”
AHEAD’s complete line of Nicklaus headwear, including the Majors Collection, are available for purchase at the company’s online shop — https://aheadusashop.com/collections/jack-nicklaus.
For additional information on AHEAD, visit its newly redesigned website at www.aheadweb.com.
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.