Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer, has officially parted ways with Nike, marking the end of a nearly three-decade-long partnership.
Woods had been representing the sports brand on the golf course for 27 years, creating one of the most successful collaborations in sports history.
This collaboration included not only Woods’ endorsements but also the billion-dollar Air Jordan deal with NBA superstar Michael Jordan.
Despite facing professional backlash after his highly publicized affair with ex-wife Ellen Nordegren and Nike’s termination of their golf equipment market, both Woods and Nike stuck together.
However, in a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Woods announced the split, saying, “Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
The initial contract between Woods and Nike was signed in 1996 for a reported $40 million.
When it was renewed in 2001, they raised the stakes to a groundbreaking $100 million.
Now, after 27 years, the partnership comes to an end, with a reported lifetime value exceeding $600 million.
Interestingly, rumors have emerged suggesting that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, approached her husband, Prince Harry, to apply for the position of Nike ambassador after the contract with Woods ended.
However, the CEO of Nike, John Donahoe, reportedly refused this request.
According to a source close to Woods, Nike did not respond to emails from Meghan’s agency regarding Harry’s potential involvement.
It appears that Nike may have chosen to distance themselves from any controversy by declining to associate with Meghan and Harry.
After all, Harry is an amateur polo player and lacks the star power and talent typically associated with such a position.
Meghan Markle herself has faced her fair share of challenges recently.
Looking back at 2023, she feels increasingly victimized as the Duchess of Doom.
However, she has devised a new plan in her quest to become a billionaire.
Markle believes that her husband, Prince Harry, needs to do more to help achieve their goals.
According to insiders via Heat magazine, Markle initially had high ambitions to become an A-list star in 2023 but now feels overwhelmed by it all.
The couple is now confronted with the reality of their diminishing star status and the need to fight for their survival.
While they talk a good game for 2024, Meghan and Harry acknowledge that they are falling behind their desired trajectory.
They fear the potential loss of their royal titles, which would be disastrous for their brand.
Looking ahead, they worry about the lack of significant projects on the horizon.
Apart from Meghan’s lifestyle blog, “The Tig,” there is nothing substantial in the pipeline.
This pales in comparison to their highly anticipated $100 million Netflix deal, which was supposed to propel them to millionaire status.
Last year, Meghan grew frustrated with the lack of progress.
She expressed to Harry that things must improve in 2024, as she is unsure of their next steps otherwise.
Meghan sees this upcoming year as make or break for their ambitions.
Consequently, she has urged Harry to step up his efforts.
So far, Meghan has taken on the majority of the networking responsibilities, and the pressure has taken its toll on her.
Many deals have fallen through, adding to her stress.
In conclusion, Tiger Woods’ long-standing partnership with Nike has come to an end after 27 years.
Rumors suggest that Meghan Markle attempted to secure a Nike ambassadorship for Prince Harry, but the CEO of Nike reportedly declined the request.
Meanwhile, Meghan and Harry face the challenge of maintaining their star status and finding new projects to solidify their financial future.
With 2024 on the horizon, Meghan has pushed Harry to take a more active role in their endeavors, as they strive to overcome the setbacks they faced in the previous year.