Tiger Woods has gone from saying “Hello, world,” to saying goodbye to Nike.
Woods capped months of speculation by announcing on Monday that the 27-year connection between golf’s biggest star and the powerful Swoosh brand is ending, raising worries about both’s future in the sport.
In a social media message, Woods hailed Nike co-founder Phil Knight for his “passion and vision” in bringing them together when he became a professional.
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods said 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.”
“I guess, hello world, huh?” a 20-year-old Woods said during the Greater Milwaukee Open.
Two days later, Nike debuted the “Hello, World” campaign and Woods lived up to the expectations. Within eight months, he had four wins, including the historic Masters victory that made him the first golfer of Black origin to win a major.
“It was time for the next chapter,” Steinberg told the Associated Press. “What an amazing run. Excellent partnership.”
Nike also took to social media, captioning a shot, “It was a hell of a round, Tiger.”
“Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, and the old school way of thinking,” read the caption on the Nike post. “You challenged the entire golf industry. You challenged us. Most importantly, focus on yourself. And for that task, we are grateful.”
Woods signed a five-year, $40 million contract when he turned pro. Most people in the industry, except Nike and his father, found the money startling at the time.
“Chump change,” the late Earl Woods once said, and he was proven right. In 2001, Woods renewed the arrangement, which was reported to be worth more than $100 million. His 2006 eight-year contract was believed to be worth $160 million, and his most recent contract was inked in 2013 for a reported $200 million.
As well-known as any athlete in the world, Woods became the face of Nike Golf and had his own “T.W.” brand.
Woods established records on the golf course, becoming the youngest to complete the Grand Slam at 24, the only player to hold all four major titles simultaneously, and winning the U.S. Open by 15 shots, the greatest margin in major golf history.
However, there were indicators of a strained relationship in recent years. Woods returned from his February 2021 car accident, which damaged bones in his right leg, wearing FootJoy shoes, stating that it felt better given his injury.
Woods wore them until last month’s PNC Championship, where he played with his son – Nike has a long history of producing shoes.
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Tiger Woods, Nike End Partnership After More Than 27 Years
When asked about his contract with Nike, Woods said, “I’m still wearing their product,” and fiercely reiterated the statement when asked whether this was the end of the arrangement.
More than just a face, Woods unknowingly supplied pivotal moments for Nike, none more so than his 2005 Masters victory, when he hit a pitch from behind the 16th green that rolled up the slope and back toward the hole. The ball dangled on the edge for a full second, the swoosh visible, before dropping. It is still one of the most renowned moments from golf’s most-watched tournament.
Woods was also filming a commercial one year when he started bouncing the golf ball off his club between takes. This led to a situation in which he bounced the ball off the club, between his legs, and behind his back before striking it in mid-air.
“Throughout the course of our partnership, we have witnessed, along with the rest of the world, how Tiger not only redefined the sport of golf but broke barriers for all of sport,” the company said in a statement. “We saw him break records, question traditional wisdom, and inspire generations of people around the world. We are thankful to have been a part of it. We wish him well in the future.”
Woods has 15 major championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), and 82 PGA Tour triumphs, tied with Sam Snead. However, he has been handicapped in recent years by five back operations, broken ligaments in his repaired left knee, a 2021 automobile accident, and age. He turned 48 at the end of last year.
Tiger Woods, Nike End Partnership After More Than 27 Years
Nike supported him as his personal life disintegrated in 2009 due to adulterous affairs, and his schedule was severely limited due to leg and back ailments. Woods miraculously recovered from fusion surgery to win the Masters in 2019, his fifth green jacket.
Nike has also shown signals of winding down its golf business. It opted to exit the hard goods market in 2016, causing Woods to use new clubs and golf balls.
Meanwhile, Nike indicated on a recent earnings call that it planned to slash $2 billion over the next three years, raising worries about how much it would continue to invest in golf.
The company still has a stable of golfers wearing its apparel, including the world’s number one player, Scottie Scheffler, who wears a “T.W.” brand shoe and Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda. Jason Day, a former No. 1 player, did not renew his contract this year and went to another gear business.
Woods has expressed optimism that he will be able to play once a month in 2024, beginning with the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles next month.
Steinberg stated that he was working on a new contract and that “I anticipate there could be an exciting announcement” at the Genesis Invitational.
Woods indicated the same thing.
“People will ask if there is another chapter,” Woods said in his post. “Yes, there will be another chapter. “See you in L.A.!”
SOURCE – (AP)
