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In the same way, the Nike Pro TurboSpeed skinsuit that Nike-sponsored sprinters wore in the 2012 London Olympic Games also provided prestigious exposure for the brand, said Richardson, who oversaw nike tiempo football boots's Olympics effort.

The big difference between a skinsuit and the Nike-sponsored professional golfers' duds, Richardson said, is that a television viewer can "see what they're wearing and can go out and buy that as well."

Golf apparel and footwear developers at Thursday's event said product development is keeping pace with the athleticism of contemporary golfers.

"Some of the most explosive athletes in the world are playing golf," said Eric Schindler, men's product director for Nike Golf apparel.

While it has dabbled in footwear and apparel for three decades, Nike's golf lineage doesn't go back nearly as far as its ties to running or other nike mercurial sports.

It started with the creation of a business plan for golf in 1984, followed the next year by the signing of golfer Seve Ballesteros of Spain. The brand ratcheted up its game after the 1996 signing of Tiger Woods, which was followed by the introduction of Nike's first ball in 2000 and first clubs in 2002.