Nike Golf Readies the Air Max Plus for the Players Championship in March

Nike, Inc. continues to rework some of its most important silhouettes into golf shoes. As folks on the PGA Tour prep for the Players Championship on March 13, the Swoosh's 18-hole-obsessed arm has reimagined the Air Max Plus runner for the green.

Clad in a reserved, but elegant 'Coconut Milk/Jade Horizon/Light Silver/Sail' color scheme, the pair abandons Sean McDowell's running-informed blueprint from 1998. Gradient finishes across the mesh base layer don't reprise their roles. Instead, the TPU-donning panel features an off-white shade that's contrasted by shimmering mudguards and tongues. The plastic reinforcement around the toe don't do much in terms of color, but the layers at the spine introduce a (faux) hairy material. While peculiar, close inspection of the Nike Golf-branded tongue reveals its inspiration.

Back in the day, a group of goats led by one named Prune were tasked with maintaining the fairways and greens on which the Players Championship are played (think of sheep grazing Scotland's countryside). Although the four-legged animal is no longer responsible for the upkeep of the course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., their legacy lives on – now on the Air Max Plus.

Underfoot, the sole unit forgoes any goat-inspired detail, but still enjoys a champagne-reminiscent medley of tones. The reworked outsole opts for a spikeless, semi-translucent finish that promises reliable performance whether playing on TPC at Sawgrass or elsewhere. Co-branding on the insole rounds out the special makeup.

Enjoy official photos of Nike Golf's Air Max Plus below. A firm Nike.com release date hasn't been disclosed by either party yet, but the pair is expected to land around mid-March to coincide with the Players Championship tournament. The golf shoe should be priced at $185.

For more from the Swoosh family, the Tom Sachs Mars Yard 3.0 is scheduled to land throughout September.