Ping signs Walker Cupper and BYU star Kihei Akina to NIL deal

Walker Cupper and BYU sophomore Kihei Akina has signed an NIL deal with Ping. He is preparing for this week’s Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, which will be his fifth PGA Tour start and his third of the season.

“Joining Ping at this point in my career is a tremendous honor,” Akina said in a press release. “I’ve been playing Ping equipment since my junior days, and I’ve developed a great relationship with their team since arriving at BYU.

“Their knowledge of equipment and custom fitting makes a huge difference in my game and helps give me the confidence I need to advance my career and achieve the goals I’ve set for myself. I’m excited to be part of the Ping family.”

Under the agreement, Akina will play a full bag of Ping clubs, carry a Ping bag and wear a Ping hat at all tournaments and appearances outside his collegiate events. This week at Black Desert Resort, his setup includes a Ping G440 LST driver, Prototype Mini Driver, i240 and Blueprint S irons, S259 wedges and a PLD Ally Blue H putter.

Akina finished eighth at the 2026 NCAA Championships. This season, he finished T16 at the Puerto Rico Open and 81st at the Wyndham Championship. At last month’s Walker Cup at Lahinch, he went 1-1-1, halving his Sunday singles match with Niall Sheils Donegan.

“Kihei has quickly put his name on the list of the top young golfers in the world,” Ping CEO and President John K. Solheim said in a release. “He had a phenomenal junior career, and that level of play has continued into college, where he’s already received numerous accolades for his performance. We’re pleased to add him to our team and look forward to following his progress as an amateur and beyond. He’s already played in four PGA Tour events, proving he can compete at the highest level. He’s a very personable young man who plays the game with a lot of skill and passion.”

NIL refers to commercial agreements covering an athlete’s name, image and likeness.