Essentially the most well-known sponsorship in skilled golf historical past is over.

On Monday morning, Tiger Woods introduced the finish of his partnership with Nike, ending a 27-year pact that turned Woods right into a sporting icon and Nike into one of many greatest manufacturers in professional golf.

The announcement, which was later confirmed to GOLF.com by Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg, ends weeks of hypothesis concerning the 15-time main champ and his long-time tools and attire companions.

“Over 27 years in the past, I used to be lucky to start out a partnership with one of the iconic manufacturers on the earth,” Woods wrote wistfully within the launch shared on his social media handles Monday morning. “The times since have been crammed with so many superb moments and recollections, if I began naming them, I may go on eternally. Phil Knight’s ardour and imaginative and prescient introduced this Nike and Nike Golf partnership collectively and I need to personally thank him, together with the Nike workers and unimaginable athletes I’ve had the pleasure of working with alongside the best way.”

Nike has been the topic of rumors alleging it’s stepping away from the golf enterprise in latest months, and the Woods announcement is its most high-profile step in that path up to now. Finally month’s PNC Championship, Woods deadpanned questions concerning his future with Nike, providing solely that he was “nonetheless carrying their product.”

After the information broke on Monday afternoon, the retail big shared a press release thanking Woods for practically three a long time of success.

“For over 27 years, we’ve got had the respect to accomplice with Tiger Woods, one of many biggest athletes the world has ever seen,” the assertion learn. “All through the course of our partnership, we’ve got witnessed together with the remainder of the world, how Tiger not solely redefined the game of golf, however broke limitations for all of sport. We watched him set information, problem standard considering and encourage generations of individuals across the globe. We’re grateful to have been part of it. We want him the very best sooner or later.”

The information raises bigger questions in regards to the state of Nike’s golf enterprise, which maintains sponsorships with high-profile gamers like Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda. The retail big’s total enterprise has struggled as of late, leading to sagging gross sales outlooks and tumbling inventory costs. In an earnings name two weeks in the past, Nike executives outlined a plan to slash some $2 billion in prices over the following three years, a call that some have speculated may negatively impression the corporate’s golf enterprise.

The information makes Woods, 48, a gear free agent for the second time in his taking part in profession. His first free agent frenzy got here in 2017, after Nike left the golf membership enterprise, and resulted in a multi-year tools cope with TaylorMade and a multi-year ball cope with Bridgestone. In his assertion, Woods hinted cryptically that his attire future may already be determined — and can be introduced as quickly because the Genesis Invitational in mid-February, the place he’s anticipated to make his first begin of the 2024 season.

“Individuals will ask if there may be one other chapter,” Woods wrote. “Sure, there will definitely be one other chapter. See you in LA!”

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a information and options editor at GOLF, writing tales for the web site and journal. He manages the Sizzling Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and makes use of his on-camera expertise throughout the model’s platforms. Previous to becoming a member of GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse College, throughout which era he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Lengthy Island, the place he’s from. He may be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.