Earlier this month, Tiger Woods made an official statement that restated many rumors. He stated that his partnership with Nike is at an end. Woods said something to the effect that there is no conflict of interest in the decision to close the contract.

However, many sports analysts are speculating what this spells for Nike and Woods’s future in golf. Is this the subtle beginning of Woods’s retirement, and will Nike pull out of future sponsorships in professional golf?

In a post on his official X account, Woods expressed appreciation for the contributions of Nike co-founder Phil Knight to his life-long career. In the same post, Woods shared a picture he took with Knight and his mother, Kultida. 

From all the clue crumbs left behind by the two parties, it seems both Woods and Nike by no means regret their alliance of 27 years.

Mark Steinberg is Woods’ agent and has also confirmed that the sports star and his long-time patron are going their separate ways.

Steinberg reminisced about the journey that started in 1996 and was forced to admit that it was career-molding for Woods. However, “it was time for a new chapter,” in the agent’s voice.

Woods was 20 years old in 1996 when he signed his first contract with Nike. The young chap had just gone pro after winning his third straight amateur. 

At the official unveiling of his first contract with Nike, 20-year-old Woods said, “I guess, hello world, huh?” As a follow-up, Nike initiated a “Hello, World” campaign two days after the unveiling.

Woods’s first-ever contract with Nike, in 1996, was worth a whopping $40 million. That was just a five-year contract. The scale of a sports promotional contract left everyone with a jaw-dropping. 

However, it was a drop in the cup as far as Nike was concerned, and the late Earl Woods, Tiger’s father, thought his son was worth way more than that.

Posterity would prove Earl Woods right as his budding talent of a son proceeded to win many more caps and grow the value of his sports endorsements in the following years. 

In 2001, Nike renewed their 5-year contract with Woods. Albeit, the sum was increased to $100 million. In 2006, he signed an eight-year deal worth $160 million.

It doesn’t end there; Woods signed his last contract with Nike in 2013 for $200 million! The very peak of the Woods-Nike deal is the floating of the ‘TW’ clothing line. 

Tiger Woods became Nike’s highway into the world of golf. Besides the TW line of merchandise through which Nike made back money on the contract, the brand also enjoyed some fringe benefits, like shooting commercials for the company.

However, speculators suggest things started going south in the Woods-Nike alliance in 2021. The golf legend had an emotionally stormy year in 2009 due to an infidelity crisis in his marriage. Still, Nike did not bail on him. 

However, in 2021, Woods was in a car accident and ended up going through major procedures on his back and left leg. At his first public appearance after recovery, Woods decided to wear a branded shoe that was not Nike’s.

Trust the Press to bug the Sportsman about the not-Nike shoe and what his sponsors would think of it. When the press hounds asked Woods about his Nike contract, he said sternly, “I’m still wearing their product.” 

Woods is Nike’s poster face in golf. Though Nike has several young golf stars representing the brand, some of them adorning TW gears, Nike may end up pulling billions of dollars from its golf promotion schemes.