The Shoe Tiger Built: Sun Day Red’s Signature Moment

Tiger Woods’ influence on golf is immeasurable. From his debut as a professional in 1996 to his remarkable comeback from injury, his story has been one of resilience, reinvention, and dominance. In late 2023, at the Hero World Challenge, Woods gave fans a glimpse of his next chapter—not through words but through the quiet disruption of an unfamiliar pair of golf shoes.

The Hero World Tease: A Glimpse Into the Future

It happened during practice rounds at the Hero World Challenge in November 2023. The shoes Tiger wore were sleek, understated, and entirely unrecognizable. With no branding to identify them, speculation erupted: Could these be the start of something new?

What no one realized at the time was that these shoes were the first prototype from Sun Day Red, a brand Tiger had been building behind the scenes. The Hero marked the first public appearance of what would become the Sun Day Red Pioneer Cypress Golf Shoe.

The story of that prototype is as bold as the design itself. Fresh from an overseas trip, the Sun Day Red team returned to the U.S. with a single sample—crafted from scratch without any existing molds or templates. The shoe went straight from the factory to Tiger’s hands and feet, debuting quietly on the Hero practice range.

“It was a labor of love, and something we are extremely proud to bring to golfers," Sun Day Red Executive Creative Director Charley Hudak said. "It is a momentous achievement for our company, and the quality of the footwear certainly reflects how significant this is for Sun Day Red in our short history.”

That moment became a turning point—a subtle but powerful announcement that Tiger Woods and Sun Day Red were ready to shape the future of golf.

He’s Him: Building the Best Golf Shoe Ever Made

For Sun Day Red, designing Tiger’s first signature shoe was so much more than a brand opportunity to expand its offerings—it was an exciting challenge to start with a blank slate with the mission, led by Tiger himself, to build the best golf shoe of all time.

Piece by piece, Tiger’s involvement in building this shoe elevated the process to a masterclass in performance design. “We learned so much from Tiger. It was truly like being back in school,” Sun Day Red Head of Marketing Scott Frost said.

His feedback wasn’t just meticulous; it was profound.

One breakthrough came when Tiger emphasized the importance of a seamless swing transition—what he called “getting on point.” That insight shaped the shoe’s design, driving countless iterations until the perfect balance of outsole and midsole transitions was achieved. This level of fine-tuning is what make players like Tiger so great, but is a detail golfers at every skill level will benefit from. What's referred to as the "drop" of the shoe is something the average consumer doesn't pay attention to but is key to leveraging ground force for a more powerful golf swing.

Pushing the team to perfect often ignored design elements like this was a huge benefit Tiger brought to the process says Hudak.

“He’s a wealth of knowledge, and his commitment to performance was remarkable. Everything was scrutinized, and nothing was arbitrary.”

A Bold Step for Golf’s Future

The Pioneer Cypress is more than just a piece of equipment—it’s a reflection of Tiger’s evolution as a golfer and a person. Tiger’s legacy is still being written, and the Sun Day Red team is embracing the opportunity to be part of that story.

The shoe is rooted in performance but designed with a timeless aesthetic. Inspired by Tiger’s “less is more” philosophy, the design balances functionality with elegance, appealing to golfers and enthusiasts alike.

“Golf is changing,” Hudak said. “There’s room to evolve and revolutionize the space. This shoe bridges performance and style to meet the needs of today’s golfer.”

The Rise of Sun Day Red

Since its announcement in February 2024, Sun Day Red has firmly established itself as a serious player in the premium performance wear space. By the time it officially launched in May, the brand had already made waves with its meticulous attention to detail, commitment to innovation, and a clear vision that places it at the intersection of sport and performance.

Much of the buzz surrounding Sun Day Red can be attributed to its association with Tiger Woods, whose influence is woven into every detail of the brand's DNA. Beyond the name itself—a nod to Woods’ iconic Sunday tradition—the brand represents a new frontier in athletic luxury, blending functionality and sophistication with a relentless pursuit of excellence.

For the design team, the journey from the first Hero prototype to the final product was nothing short of transformative. “Tiger speaks another language when it comes to golf," explains Charley Hudak, Executive Creative Director. "Once we were able to unlock the Rosetta Stone, we started to really hit our stride with understanding his requests. And that’s when the magic happened. His understanding of the game is profound, and his input on the footwear design was instrumental at each stage of the process.”

The Pioneer Cypres golf shoe embodies the brand's ethos, showcasing a level of craftsmanship and innovation that reflects Woods’ storied career. Every detail, from the choice of materials to the structure and fit, was scrutinized and refined with input from Tiger himself. This hands-on approach has resulted in a product that doesn’t just meet the demands of elite performance but also raises the bar for what’s possible in golf footwear.

But the footwear is just a chapter. Sun Day Red’s early success has also been fueled by its ability to resonate with a broader audience, including avid golfers, design enthusiasts, and style-forward consumers alike. The brand’s storytelling, commitment to quality, and connection to Tiger’s unparalleled legacy have positioned it as a leader in a rapidly evolving market.

As the brand looks ahead, the focus remains on pushing boundaries and delivering products that reflect both the tradition and the modernity of golf. With a growing product line and a dedicated following, Sun Day Red is not just a brand—it’s a movement, one that continues to shape the future of sport and performance.

The Pioneer Cypress: Designed for Greatness

Inspired by Tiger's story of relentless pursuit, this shoe entering the market stands as a symbol of everything that makes golf extraordinary: the passion, the precision, and the thrill of stepping up to the first tee. It’s an invitation to embrace a new era where performance meets style and tradition evolves into innovation. The Pioneer Cypress isn’t just a new chapter for Tiger Woods—it’s a rallying cry for the future of golf.

The Pioneer Cypress is more than just a golf shoe—it’s a testament to Tiger’s pursuit of perfection and the nonstop innovation of the Sun Day Red team. From nearly 20 prototypes to the final product, this shoe embodies the intersection of high performance and timeless style.

Every detail tells a story. From a premium full-grain leather upper with a French cord detail to a signature Tiger Stripe deboss pattern on the heel, the Pioneer Cypress pays homage to golf’s heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern design.

Inside, Tiger’s personal ethos comes alive with motivational phrases hidden in the sock liner: “Do the work” and “Put in the time.” The shoe’s unique spike design mimics a tiger’s claw, blending stability with greens preservation—a feature Tiger insisted upon.

Comfort is paramount. Two custom sock liners, one inspired by coral reefs for a massage-like feel and another flat option, allow players to tailor their experience. The result is a shoe that offers stability for powerful drives, control for precise putts, and unmatched comfort throughout a round.

The Pioneer Cypress launches in five striking colorways, including two limited-edition styles featuring red tread plates chosen by Tiger himself. With a retail price starting at $250, this shoe represents the future of performance and style.