Jack Nicklaus Announces New ‘Golden Bear’ Project While Tiger Woods Faces Legal Actions Over Logo Honoring His Career

If you’re old enough to have witnessed golf’s golden era, you’ve probably found yourself caught in the eternal debate: Who’s the GOAT—Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus? Both of these legends have résumés that are nothing short of remarkable. But here is the catch: both have ventured beyond golf into the business world and yes, the debate continues there too.

Woods has his apparel brand, Sun Day Red (SDR) along with many other ventures like TGL, TGR Design, T-Squared, and whatnot while Nicklaus is at the helm of Nicklaus Companies, which also has its hands in pretty much everything—golf course design, real estate, hospitality, and more. But there was one similarity between their business portfolios, until now! With his latest collaboration, Golden Bear has added something that Woods does not have.

Jack Nicklaus’s collaboration with Stix Golf will be out soon

Jack Nicklaus’s new collaboration with Stix Golf is helping him step into new territory. The Nicklaus™ sets by Stix Golf will make their big debut at the 2025 PGA Show on January 22 in Orlando and will officially hit the market in April, perfect timing for spring golf season. Stix Golf’s Founder, Gabe Coyne, explained the mission behind this collaboration.

“Stix is growing the game by making quality golf equipment available to a wider audience. We have enjoyed success doing just that in our first four years, and it is now an honor for Stix to join forces with the iconic global Nicklaus™ brand to create a collection of clubs that will enable more people to enjoy golf. The Nicklaus™ brand stands for quality, performance and unparalleled excellence, and we share a common mission to offer quality golf equipment at more affordable prices so more people can access and enjoy the game.” Notably, Stix will also support the Play Yellow Campaign chaired by Jack and his wife Barbara Nicklaus.

The 18x major winner and his company are equally excited about this collaboration. “Stix has quickly turned heads in the golf industry by making remarkable products that not only meet our high-performance standards but also provide fair pricing, helping to make the game of golf more accessible to more people,” said Nicklaus Brands President Andy O’Brien. “The loyal Stix customer has a youthful and energetic demographic, for both men, women and juniors of varying handicaps. It is important for the Nicklaus™ legacy to reach this audience and meet the needs of this growing demographic of new golfers entering the game.”

Nicklaus and Stix are here for some serious business. Even though their products are not out in the market yet, Nicklaus knows what he’s aiming for. Stix, in particular, has already made a name for itself with sleek, minimalist designs and high-quality engineering—all at reasonable prices. Their “less is more” philosophy is a big selling point. But the question is, will the golf world approve of this new collab? It remains to be seen! Will it be somewhat similar to the criticism Woods’s apparel brand faced?

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For now, Woods‘s SDR is certainly getting its fair share of attention right now, but unfortunately, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Tiger Woods’s SDR does not have it easy

For now, Sun Day Red has plenty on its plate without worrying about competition. The brand is neck-deep in legal disputes, starting with Tigeraire, which claims SDR “unlawfully hijacked” its logo. That case is still ongoing. And then there’s Puma, which filed a complaint, saying SDR’s logo looks a little too similar to their iconic Leaping Cat. Puma is worried it could confuse shoppers, especially since both brands operate in overlapping markets. In reality, the logo with 15 stripes is actually an ode to Woods’s glorious 15 majors.  But SDR isn’t backing down. Their partner, TaylorMade, confidently told CNBC they’re standing by their trademarks, and the confidence shows in the way the golfer promotes his brand.  

As if the legal drama wasn’t enough, SDR has also faced plenty of criticism for other reasons. From steep price tags to complaints about its sweat-resistant apparel not really living up to the hype, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the brand. And now, with Nicklaus Companies teaming up with Stix Golf, there could be more pressure. Sure, Nicklaus’s new venture isn’t directly competing with SDR—at least not yet.