TIGER WOODS HAS announced that he is ending a longstanding partnership with Nike, thanking the sports brand in a social media post that alluded to “another” unspecified chapter.
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” the golf legend said on Facebook. “Yes, there will certainly be another chapter.”
Woods, 48, a 15-time major champion who has struggled with injury in recent months, posted a picture with his mother, Kutilda Woods and Nike Founder Phil Knight, whose “passion and vision” he credited with bringing to fruition the Nike Golf partnership.
Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although Woods has employed Nike shoes, hats and other items, he is perhaps best recognized for donning the swoosh in the fire engine red polo shirt worn in his first Masters triumph in 1997.
In Woods, whom the brand first sponsored in 1996 when the golfer was just 20, Nike identified a global superstar identified with his sport in a similar way to Michael Jordan in basketball and Roger Federer in tennis.
More than 20 years after he stopped playing, Jordan’s name still sells basketball products for the brand. Federer, by contrast, shifted from Nike to Japanese brand Uniqlo in his last playing years.
Nike’s golf business has amassed more than $10 billion [€9.12b] in sales, with the peak year in 2013 with $791 million [€721.5m] in revenues.
Woods has received an estimated $500 million [€456m] through the venture, according to estimates.
Don’t go there kid.. Go somewhere where you’ll be appreciated and where you’ll only get better
@Chonky Racoon: spot on I know it’s hard to say no to these huge clubs but better for your future if you went to a smaller club and got plenty of game time clubs like Dortmund or Lyon who have history of bringing players throught
There not holding back anyway
Every country has a Messi these days. Wessi was our Messi!
Is he the first Japanese man to sign for them, first Asian perhaps? Can’t think of anyone else off hand. Lá liga will be delighted either way!
@Hardly Normal: he’s signed for Castilla , it’s Real Madrid’s B team .. it’s a strategic move for Madrid , the player himself may not thrive though. A guy like Odegaard is making a name for himself in Holland but it’s unlikely he’ll ever triumph in Real Madrid . It’s surprising that he didn’t go back to Barca tbh .
@Hardly Normal: As Mr. Madrugada points out, Kubo is signing for Castilla, not Real Madrid (a tehnicality). But Real Madrid (including Castilla and Real Madrid C) have had at least two Asian players before. There was some fanfare a few years back when they signed Chinese Lin Liangming. There was also a Jordanian (Tha’er Bawab) who played for both Real and Barce’s B-Teams back in the early 00s.
@Limón Madrugada: do you think Odegaard will ever make it with Madrid or will just be sold on ??
@Philip Farrell: you hardly rattled that off the top of your head, if you did fair play. So no asain player has played for Real Madrid proper? I’d put money on it this lad will get an opportunity if he shows any bit of promise. The asain market is untapped from a Spanish point of view, interesting move.
@Andrew Tuite: sold on I reckon , he’s done well in Holland and Ajax are looking at him . He’d be useful as part of the deal for de Ligt !! But he needs to make a proper breakthrough for Madrid to see him as first team material.
Great news for la liga