The 27-year run between Woods and Nike recently came to a close, and to be honest, there may never be another partnership like it ever again.
@boardroom Tiger Woods to Taylor Made? #tigerwoods #nike #golftok #golftiktok #taylormade ♬ original sound – Boardroom
It was a much different time when Tiger Woods and Nike agreed to a partnership in August 1996.
Bill Clinton was re-elected as President. Atlanta hosted the Olympics. And gas prices hovered damn near $1/gallon.
It’s been a long time, and after 27 years together, Woods and Nike parted ways earlier this week. From the viral commercials to the must-have apparel to the iconic moments on the course, the legendary golfer simultaneously built his own brand and Nike’s in a multiple-decades-long deal that proved to be beneficial for all parties.
We all know how successful Tiger has been on the links. He’s arguably the GOAT golfer — maybe not even arguably — as he’s tied for the top spot in PGA Tour history with 82 Tour wins. Among those are five Masters titles, four PGA Championships, and three more at the US Open and The Open each.
Nike has seen just as much success since partnering up with Tiger, having increased its revenue nearly 10x. While Woods wasn’t alone in helping get The Swoosh to this point, he carried the team regarding the company’s efforts in golf. And he was rewarded for that, bringing in roughly $660 million through his multiple Nike contracts over the years. For comparison, Woods has made $120,954,766 in career earnings (official tournaments) in his playing career.
On the heels of this huge partnership coming to an end, Boardroom’s Gabe Oshin breaks down why Woods made this decision now and how we may never see an athlete-brand relationship like the one Tiger and Nike had ever again.