Justin Rose Named McLaren Golf's First Global Ambassador

Justin Rose, the world's fifth-ranked golfer, has signed on as the first global ambassador for McLaren Golf, the new equipment division of the luxury automotive and Formula 1 company. The 45-year-old Englishman will debut the brand's clubs at this week's PGA Tour Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami, coinciding with the company's official launch.

Rose, a 2013 U.S. Open champion and Olympic gold medalist, ends his time as an equipment free agent with the deal. He has also taken an equity stake in McLaren Golf and contributed to product development over nearly two years, testing prototypes and providing feedback to the engineering teams. He plans to carry a custom papaya-colored McLaren staff bag and wear the logo on his apparel during the tournament, which begins Thursday.

The move comes amid one of Rose's strongest seasons. He captured his 13th PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in February and tied for third at the Masters earlier this month. He leads the tour in greens in regulation and ranks seventh in strokes gained approach.

Rose's ties to McLaren run deep. He maintains a relationship with Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and regularly plays...