Tiger Woods said on Monday that it was ending its long association with Nikecapping a lucrative nearly three-decade relationship with the iconic sporting goods brand that helped him become golf's first billionaire.
In a statement on
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The message
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to enter into a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” said Woods.
“The days since have been filled with so many incredible moments and memories that if I started naming them, I could go on forever.”
Woods did not provide details on any new sponsors, but hinted at revealing “another chapter” in the Genesis Invitational next month in The Angels.
“People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will definitely be another chapter. See you in Los Angeles! Tiger,” Woods wrote.
Woods and Nike became synonymous throughout the 48-year-old American's career, from the moment he announced his professional debut in 1996 with an acclaimed Nike advertising campaign in which he declared simply: “Hello world.”
At first, Woods' association with Nike was limited to clothing, but the sporting goods giant later moved into making balls and clubs, in part fueled by Woods' success in broadening golf's global appeal.
An incredible race
Nike on Monday praised Woods for his achievements, with an Instagram post titled: “That was a hell of a round, Tiger” over a photo of the player wearing his signature jersey. Nike 'Sunday red'.
“Tiger, you challenged your competition, the stereotypes, the conventions, the old school way of thinking,” Nike said in the post. “You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And, above all, yourself. And for that challenge we are grateful.”
In another statement, Nike said Woods, the son of an African-American father and Thai mother, “broke barriers for the entire sport.”
“We watched him set records, challenge conventional thinking and inspire generations of people around the world,” Nike said.
The Nike ad after Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters was special. It has to be one of the most iconic brand partnerships in sports history pic.twitter.com/NOTBfmK2o5
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) January 8, 2024
The sporting goods company has strongly supported Woods throughout its association with the golfer, especially in 2009, when his career was affected by the sex scandal that destroyed his clean image.
As other sponsors walked away, Nike, which from the beginning saw Woods as the same kind of generational talent as the basketball superstar, NBA Michael Jordan, stood firm.
Woods, in turn, reciprocated that loyalty even after Nike exited the golf equipment business in 2016, continuing to wear the brand's apparel.
However, signs that the partnership was coming to an end began to emerge after Woods' horrific car accident in California in 2021, which left him with serious injuries and almost led to the amputation of his right leg.
The legendary American golfer has worn Footjoy shoes since the accident, stating that they offered greater stability for his ankle, fueling speculation about the status of his deal with Nike.
Speaking in the PNC Championship Last month, Woods played coy when asked by reporters whether his latest 10-year contract with Nike, which expired in 2023, would be renewed. “I still use his products,” Woods said at the time.
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