Tiger Woods has split with Nike ending a 27-year-long partnership.
Woods released a statement after speculation surrounded one of sport’s most famous player-brand relationships:
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” he wrote in a statement.
“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.
He finished the segment with: “People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter. See you in LA!”
Nike also posted an image of Woods on Instagram with a caption reading like so:
“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 appears set to tee it up at the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour in Los Angeles in February, a tournament of which he is the host.
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Tiger Woods-Nike: A match made in heaven
The 15-time major champion signed with Nike in 1996 for five years in a deal reportedly worth $40 million. It didn’t take long for him to win on the PGA Tour after at the Las Vegas Invitational.
His memorable ‘Hello World’ line was redefined in a Nike advert – the first of many television commercials Nike created with Woods that live long in the memory.
A year later, he won the Masters by 12 shots and in 2002, Woods put a Nike driver and a set of irons and wedges into play when the brand began manufacturing clubs.
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From watching his Nike golf ball drop in the hole on the 16th at Augusta in 2005, to remarkably winning the Green Jacket in 2019 in his Sunday red, Woods’ career is synonymous with the company’s instantly recognisable Swoosh emblem.
At the 2022 Masters, golf fans were quick to spot Woods wearing FootJoy shoes as opposed to Nike shoes.
Rumours ramped up regarding the future of the Woods-Nike relationship in 2023, which he was asked about at the PNC Championship in December.
“I’m still wearing their product,” he said.
With Jason Day also parting ways and switching allegiance to Malbon Golf, TWLegion reported at the end of last year that Nike’s apparel could soon be run through Srixon/Cleveland.
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