Tiger Woods Announces the End of His Longtime Partnership With Nike

Tiger Woods’s longtime association with Nike is coming to an end.

The 15-time major champion, who announced his professional debut in 1996 with a "Hello, World" marketing campaign at the Greater Milwaukee Open, announced the end on Monday in a social media post.

"Over 27 years ago I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world," Woods wrote. “The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever. Phil Knight’s passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way."

He added: "People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter. See you in LA!"

Woods was referring to next month’s Genesis Invitational, the tournament he hosts at Riviera Country Club and where he is expected to play.

Before he hit his first tee shot in Milwaukee in 1996, Woods had already inked lucrative endorsement deals with Nike ($40 million) and Titleist ($20 million).

The Nike deal then was for clothing but the company eventually got into making golf balls and clubs, with Woods helping launch those products. Woods subsequently signed new deals with Nike in 2001, 2006 and 2013, the latter of which was believed to be for 10 years but also with his agent, Mark Steinberg, saying at the time that "I’m confident he will be with Nike for the rest of his career."

But the company got out of the equipment business in 2016 (Woods signed separate deals with Bridgestone for golf balls and TaylorMade for clubs) and there have been reports it will no longer be in the golf business at all.

Woods, who turned 48 on Dec. 30, will likely have no trouble landing another clothing deal, and there have also been reports that TaylorMade might get into that space.