Breaking Down Tiger Woods’ Unprecedented Run with Nike

Tiger Woods, unprecedented move with Nike

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When Tiger Woods and Nike partnered in August 1996, it was a very different time. Bill Clinton was re-elected president. Atlanta hosted the Olympics. And gas prices hovered around $1 a gallon.

It’s been a long time and after 27 years together, Woods and Nike parted ways earlier this week. From viral ads to must-have apparel to iconic moments on the course, the legendary golfer has simultaneously built his and Nike’s brands through decades of mutually beneficial partnerships.

We all know how successful Tiger is on the ice. He is arguably the GOAT golfer as he is tied for first in PGA Tour history with 82 tournament wins. It may not even be controversial. That includes five Masters titles, four PGA Championships and three US Opens and The Open. Nike has seen similar success since partnering with Tiger, with sales increasing nearly tenfold. Woods wasn’t the only person who helped get The Swoosh to this point, but he spoke to the team about the company’s efforts in golf. To that end, Nike earned about $660 million through multi-year contracts. By comparison, Woods earned $120,954,766 in career earnings (official tournaments) during his career. As this massive partnership comes to a close, The Boardroom’s Gabe Oshin explains why Woods made this decision and why we may never see sports-brand relationships like Tiger and Nike ever again.