Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer, has officially started a new chapter off the course following his recent separation with Nike. Woods, the winner of a record 82 official PGA Tour events, has announced a new partnership with TaylorMade to launch Sun Day Red on Monday (Feb 12), ending his 27-year relationship with Nike. During the event on Monday, he also unveiled the new logo, which will feature a tiger instead of his trademark “TW” when he defends the Riviera in the PGA Genesis Invitational later this week.
Woods reveals Sun Day Red
The new “lifestyle brand” was officially revealed before the 15-time major winner returned to competition. The new trademark is stamped in crimson and features a tiger emblem to highlight his initials. Many sports and golf enthusiasts were surprised to learn the news, as they had long connected the iconic PGA winner with Nike. Interestingly, the color red has a tight relationship with Woods because he frequently wears it during the final rounds on Sundays on the PGA Tour. According to Woods’ mother, Kultida, red is a powerful color in her native Thailand.
Woods has been dealing with injury issues in recent years and is yet to compete in 2024. He withdrew in the third round of Masters 2023 due to plantar fasciitis and underwent season-ending right ankle surgery two weeks later. Woods and Nike have been linked for the previous two decades, beginning with his professional debut in 1996 and ending with his first major tournament victory in 11 years in 2019. In 1996, Nike even released the legendary ‘Hey World’ ad, based on Woods’ professional debut, in which he began the news conference with, “I guess, hello world, huh?”
Tiger’s divorce from Nike
On January 9, this year, Woods formally ended his 27-year connection with Nike. “Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods stated on his website. “Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking. You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge we’re grateful,” Nike said on its Instagram handle.