The crocodile's first steps. Boston, 1923. Young tennis prodigy Rene Lacoste is 19 and likes a challenge. His team captain promises him the crocodile leather suitcase the player admired in a store window if he wins his upcoming match. More recently, Lacoste's popularity has surged[citation needed] due to French designer Christophe Lemaire's work to create a more modern, upscale look. In 2005, almost 50 million Lacoste products sold in over 110 countries.[citation needed] Its visibility has increased due to the contracts between Lacoste and several tennis players, including former American tennis players Andy Roddick and John Isner, French veteran Richard Gasquet, and Swiss Olympic gold medalist Stanislas Wawrinka. Lacoste had also begun to increase its presence in the golf world, where noted two time Masters Tournament champion Jose María Olazabal and Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie have been seen sporting Lacoste shirts in tournaments.