By Mark Gray
3:00pm PST, Jan 8, 2024
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Tiger Wood is saying goodbye to the swoosh. In a pretty stunning announcement on Monday, Jan. 8, the golf great revealed that he's parting ways with Nike after nearly three decades of business partnership.
"Over 27 year 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," he wrote on X.
Keep reading for more on Tiger's "next chapter" and to see Nike's response…
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On the heels of Tiger Woods' announcement, Nike publicly honored the golfer, sharing an image from one of his five Masters wins. "It was a hell of a round, Tiger," the brand wrote.
"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," Nike wrote.
For a time, Tiger was almost as synonymous with Nike as Michael Jordan.
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While the news is surprising given the nearly three-decade partnership, there had been some speculation that a business divorce was looming.
One year after Tiger Woods fractured both the tibia and fibula in his right leg in a car accident, he was seen wearing FootJoy shoes.
Last month he was asked about his partnership with Nike and gave an unenthusiastic answer: "I'm still wearing their product," he said.
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Tiger Woods signed with Nike as an amateur and has only worn the swoosh in professional tournaments.
Tiger signed new deals with Nike in 2001, 2006 and 2013, Sports Illustrated reports.
"I'm confident he will be with Nike for the rest of his career," his agent said in 2013.
There are reports that Nike could be getting out of the golf business all together.
