Tiger Woods has confirmed that he is ending his almost 30-year relationship with Nike. This ends what is likely the most famous sports partnership of all time.
When Woods was only 20, Nike started supporting the golfing giant. The famous “Hello World” TV ad was how they got involved. All 82 of Woods’ PGA Tour wins and 15 of his Major championships have been won while he had the famous Swoosh on his chest.
Some people said that the 48-year-old would be leaving Nike at the start of the new year, but that was just before the PNC Championship in December 2023. The news was revealed by Woods in a short post on his social media accounts.
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“More than 27 years ago, I was lucky enough to start working with one of the world’s most famous brands,” he said. So many wonderful memories and moments have happened since then that I could go on and on if I tried to list them all.Phil Knight’s drive and vision made this partnership between Nike and Nike Golf possible, and I want to thank him, as well as all the Nike workers and amazing athletes I’ve had the chance to work with along the way. Some people will want to know if there is a second part. There will definitely be a second episode. We’ll see you in LA! The Tiger.”
When Woods signed with Nike early in his career, he quickly rose to the top of the game. This helped Nike sell their clubs, clothes, balls, and other gear, and they became one of the most important companies in the sport. Woods also launched his own unique TW brand through the famous company. He is said to have made around $500 million (£394 million) from his long time working with Nike.
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But when American clothing company Nike shut down its golf business in 2016, Woods switched clubs to TaylorMade and golf balls to Bridgestone. He still wore Nike clothes, like his famous red shirt and black trousers on Sundays. Since his terrible car accident a few years ago, he’s been wearing FootJoy shoes. He says they make him more comfortable after multiple surgeries and give him more security on the course.
Last month’s PNC Championship, in which Woods and his son Charlie finished T5 at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. This is the last time Tiger fans will be able to see him in Nike gear, and rumours are already starting to spread about who he might switch to before his next tournament.
Woods recently said that he would like to play in one tournament a month from now on. This would give him enough time to prepare and then recover. The fact that he ended his message by saying “see you in LA” suggests that he will most likely play in the Genesis Invitational in mid-February, which he hosts at Riviera Country Club as a 15-time Major champion.
