Tiger Woods announced Monday that his longtime partnership with Nike has ended after 27 years, closing one of the most iconic brand relationships in professional sports history. I am 30 years old so as long as I have been a fan of golf, Tiger Woods has been sponsored by Nike. Woods turned pro in August of 1996, and ever since he was dressed head to toe in Nike clothing. Going to include some of my favorite Nike Golf commercials that featured Tiger throughout his partnership with Nike. Below the still frame has Tiger looking like he has been smoking the LOUD.
Tiger posted the following comment on his X/Twitter account earlier today.
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods said. “The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever. Phil Knight's passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way. People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter. See you in LA!”
Nike also confirmed the end of its Tiger Woods partnership, after 27 years: “Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking. You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge we’re grateful.”
Woods' relationship with Nike weathered his 2009 infidelity scandal, his 2010 divorce and his 2021 car crash and subsequent rehabilitation. The Iconic Nike swoosh on the a red polo shirt every Sunday Tiger competed. When you think of Classic Sunday Tiger, when he was in the lead or within striking distance at a tournament and could smell victory just 18 holes away, what do you think of? It's that red shirt with the white Nike logo.
Tiger's last contract negotation came back in 2013, in which Nike and Woods' were able to agree on a 10 year, $200 million dollar contract. His last event wearing Nike gear was the PNC Championship in December.
In December, Nike announced it planned to cut $2 billion in costs over the next three years, which would include layoffs of hundreds of employees. I think a lot of this stems from Nike wanting to get out of the Golf business. They stopped manufacturing and selling clubs, golf balls, and all non apparel products back in 2016. We saw this weekend that Jason Day, another Nike ambassador for years was no longer sporting the Nike swoosh. Matt Wolfe on the LIV tour also no longer was wearing Nike. I would assume most of their athletes had expiring deals at the end of 2023. Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy are still some of the premier names still sporting the swoosh, but well see for how long.
In the statement, Woods, 48, didn't say what apparel brands he planned to wear in future events. He has been wearing FootJoy golf shoes since returning to competition from injuries he suffered in a car wreck outside Los Angeles in February 2021. He had also been using TaylorMade clubs and Bridgestone golf balls since Nike stopped manufacturing equipment. Tiger Woods wearing Nike was the Michael Jordan of the golf world. Will be interesting to see what brand he goes with next.
