American golf star Tiger Woods now part ways with Nike after a 27-year partnership, marking the conclusion of one of the most impactful endorsement contracts in modern sports.
In a statement, Nike expressed gratitude for working with Woods, acknowledging his record-setting achievements and ability to challenge conventional thinking and inspire generations globally, and wished him the best in the future.
The move comes as Nike looks to scale down its sports investment to cut $2 billion in the coming years, including the previous stoppage of the golf equipment line in 2016 and when Woods's career subsided due to injury. Tiger Woods' last major victory was in 2019, but he has suffered from injuries for years, and a severe car crash in 2021 has significantly restricted his game. The following year, Woods wore FootJoy shoes instead of his usual Nikes at the Masters, citing health reasons for the change.
"I have very limited mobility now," he mentioned. "With the rods, plates, and screws in my leg from the 2021 car crash, I needed something different, something that allowed me to be more stable. That's what I've gone to." Nike also released a statement expressing their commitment to working with Woods to meet his new needs.
Wood Journey with Nike
Tiger Woods signed with Nike in 1996 after turning 20, which led him to global fame along with his outstanding achievements in golf, including becoming the youngest golfer to win the Masters in 1997. Nike also expanded its image beyond running and basketball shoes by featuring Woods in his iconic red polo.
When Tiger Woods signed with Nike, golf was a minor category for the sportswear company. Still, with Woods' popularity, the company started making golf equipment, resulting in annual sales in the hundreds of millions, which had never surpassed other sports categories like football, running, or basketball. During his almost 28-year career, Woods' profile has endured where he achieved 15 significant championships, tied for the most career wins on the PGA Tour, and even experienced setbacks, like a 2009 infidelity scandal and a serious 2021 car accident in California.
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A Tribute to Nike
Tiger Woods paid tribute to Nike's co-founder, Phil Knight, by posting a photo of himself, Phil Knight, and his mother, Kultida.
"I want to personally thank Knight, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way," Woods wrote on X.
Few athletes have celebrated Tiger Woods throughout Nike's history. At Nike's headquarters in suburban Portland, Oregon, the primary conference center is named after him. In Phil Knight's 2016 memoir, "Shoe Dog," Woods was also praised in a particular moment after the tragic death of Knight's son Matthew in a scuba diving accident, where he was the first among all Nike athletes to reach out during the death of Phil Knight's son, Matthew. In his memoir, Knight mentioned that Woods called at 7:30 am and holds a deep respect for him, stating he will not tolerate any negative remarks about Woods in his presence.
Woods' New Chapter is Certain
Tiger Woods' contract with Nike, valued at $500 million over its lifetime, was reportedly set to end in 2023, which Woods chose not to provide details about last month.
Tiger Woods remains a prominent figure in golf, recently joining the PGA Tour policy board in August amid the game's ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and supporting a made-for-television golf league, TGL, along with Rory McIlroy, set to launch next year. Despite ending his partnership with Nike, Woods stated on Monday that there will be another chapter in his career.
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