Tiger Woods takes to social media with emotional post to reveal he has parted ways with Nike: “There will certainly be another chapter.”
Tiger Woods has taken to social media with an emotional post to confirm he has parted ways with Nike following a 27-year partnership with the sports giant.
Woods, 48, is estimated to have made in the region of $500m during his time with Nike.
Before Christmas, the 15-time major champion teed off at the PNC Championship with his son Charlie Woods, in what was to be his final competition wearing Nike golf gear.
Since 1996, Woods has been sponsored by Nike, and as a result, he has developed into one of the greatest golfers of all time.
Alongside the late great Sam Snead, the former World No. 1 has not only amassed a record-tying 82 PGA Tour victories, but he has also won 15 major championships, three fewer than record holder Jack Nicklaus.
Woods holds the record for most cumulative weeks as the World No.1 at 683. Next best on the list is LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman on 331.
Woods produced one of his and Nike’s greatest ever moments when chipping in for birdie at the par-3 16th in the final round of the 2005 Masters, a tournament he went on to win in a playoff over Chris DiMarco.
But after weeks of speculation, Woods confirmed his departure from Nike Golf on Jan. 8, 2024, via his social media channels.
Woods tweeted:
“Over 27 years ago I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,
“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.
“People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter.
“See you in LA! Tiger.”
Following Woods’ confirmation of the news, Nike posted on Instagram with the below graphic:
“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.”
Where could Tiger Woods end up after leaving Nike?
Woods’ final line leaves plenty of answers.
According to Sports Business Radio, there is potential for Woods to follow in the footsteps of tennis ace Roger Federer by leaving Nike and taking an equity stake in On Running. Federer did exactly that in 2018, four years before retiring from the game.
This is only speculation of course, and the CEO of the brand has said they do not currently have plans to work with Woods.
But in the wake of such rumors, the stock exchange is undoubtedly seeing only one direction for the On Holding AG share price! (refer below)
Twenty-time grand slam champion Roger Federer signed a $300 million contract with Uniqlo and an equity-based agreement with On Running, which brought in an additional $300 million, after quitting Nike.
Federer was once mentioned by Woods as an inspiration.
Federer has his own ‘The Roger Collection’ at On, which comprises tennis-inspired sneakers developed by him and the team.
Woods, who has been wearing FootJoy golf shoes instead of his normal Nike Golf shoes since 2022, made his PGA Tour comeback last month at his annual Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
He had been out of action since undergoing ankle surgery following his WD at The Masters in April 2023.
Woods suffered multiple open fracturers in the tibia and fibula of his right leg, as well as significant multiple injuries to his right foot and ankle when he crashed a rental car in Los Angeles in February 2021.
Another possible scenario that plays out is that Woods set up his own brand of apparel.
We will have to wait and see…
No Laying Up first brought the Woods-Nike split to everyone’s attention in the first week of December 2023 – READ HERE
“Hearing some stuff that the PNC was allegedly his last tournament with Nike,” revealed the popular golf podcast.
“Thus, we’ll watch what transpires there for related matters as well as for a few other Nike athletes.
“One of the OEMs is starting a potentially successful apparel brand.”
Jason Day, the 2015 US PGA champion and former World No. 1 player, also quit Nike last week and joined Malbon right away.
Nothing is likely to happen on that front anytime soon, as Rory McIlroy and Nike agreed to a 10-year contract extension in 2017.