While Tiger Woods Still Ponders Over His Fractured Nike Bond, Fans Paint a Grim Post PNC Championship Future

It doesn’t matter what Tiger Woods thinks. Or what he plans to do. His fans have already made up their minds. Reportedly, the 15-time Major winner is going through some serious troubles with his long-time sponsor, Nike. Although it’s yet to be confirmed, an overwhelming majority think the PNC Championship is going to be his last outing with the $182 billion giant.

The veteran golfer hasn’t sported the familiar Swoosh for more than a year, raising speculation of a fractured deal. The fact that, in the Hero World Challenge, the former World No. 1 ditched Nike in favor of FootJoy fanned the rumors. Regardless of the veracity of the claims, Woods’s fans think the old guard is falling.

Tiger Woods fans have their say about his future

TWLegion, a Tiger Woods fan page, asked the Netizens for their opinion on Nike’s sponsorship with Woods. “Do you think the PNC will be Tiger’s last tournament with Nike?” the Tiger Woods fan page ran a poll on its X (formerly Twitter) handle. As of the time the report went to publication, almost 2600 people had cast their votes. A whopping 68% (roughly 1766) voted “yes,” while the rest 32% had some hopes of salvaging the deal.

It should be noted that the votes reflect a popular sentiment about Nike’s long-running partnership with the former World No. 1. Most recently, the host of the No Laying Up Podcast opined that the PNC Championship is going to be Tiger Woods’s last tournament with the megabrand.

Nike and Woods share a long history together. The mega brand first signed the 82-time PGA Tour winner in 1996, when Woods just turned pro. The first $40 million partnership ran for five years. Since then, Nike has signed multiple extensions, the last of which came in 2013 for a reported $200 million.

The ten-year deal is set to run its course this year with no extension in sight. Recent reports indicate that Nike is set to take a rather unusual business decision, leaving Woods with only a few options at his disposal.

Nike’s potential exit muddies the water

Interestingly, Nike and Tiger Woods have been unusually reticent about the future of their partnership. Earlier in the 2022 Masters, Woods explained his reasons for picking the FootJoy shoes in lieu of Nike. “I have very limited mobility now. Just with the rods and plates and screws that are in my leg, I needed something different, something that allowed me to be more stable. That’s what I’ve gone to.” Nike, too, in an official statement, updated that they are working on something suitable for the 82-time PGA Tour winner.

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However, more than a year has passed, and the apparel giant has yet to come up with any special kicks for the veteran golfer. There are also reports that Nike is planning to outsource its business through Srixon or Cleveland. On the other hand, TaylorMade Golf, Tiger Woods’s equipment sponsor, has hinted at expanding its apparel business, opening the doors to a future partnership with the veteran golfer.

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