The five-time Masters victor Tiger Woods has been issued with some stark warnings by one academic as he prepares to move on from his longstanding deal with sportswear giants Nike after 27 years
Tiger Woods has been warned that major brands could think twice about offering him a deal due to the ‘controversy’ that has impacted his personal life away from the golf course.
This week, the 15-time major winner announced his departure from long-time sponsor Nike, ending a 27-year collaboration. At the end of last year, his last contract, a ten-year arrangement that was signed back in 2013, came to an end, leaving both parties to make an awkward choice.
The 48-year-old golf legend and the giants of Oregon sportswear eventually parted ways, and now a number of big brands are fighting for his endorsement. Bunkered claims that Greyson Clothiers and On Running are reportedly pursuing the five-time Masters champion for his next deals.
Notwithstanding the alleged attention from those brands, the former world champion has received a warning that potential sponsors may be discouraged from sponsoring him due to his past personal scandals. Rob Wilson, an economics professor at the Sheffield Business School, revealed to Altindex.com that businesses might be reluctant to hire Woods.
When it was revealed that the legendary American athlete had extramarital affairs in 2009, it caused a huge international scandal. In addition, the seasoned golfer caused controversy in 2017 after being detained for driving while intoxicated.
The academic has now clarified that Woods might have trouble landing a contract similar to the one he inked with Nike ten years ago. “I’d imagine that another brand will try to sign Tiger,” he clarified. It will, however, be on much shorter terms. Most likely, a young company like Castore is riding high on the remainder of his career and may be undervalued.
“There will be brands that won’t go near Tiger because of his controversy,” Wilson added, outlining his justification. But we’ll discover that most people will talk about his golf rather than his background. Tiger continues to be a global celebrity and adds value to many businesses.
The professor went on to say that the apparent reluctance might be the result of a conflict between the company’s values and its brand: “There will be brands that, because of their values, won’t consider Tiger a part of their brands.” However, that applies to any athlete facing comparable charges.”
“He had an incredible career filled with many highs and lows, but all athletes eventually reach their saturation point. Tiger doesn’t play as well as he used to, but he is still playing good golf these days. He is now older than that, and his chances of continuing to be successful in sports are beginning to dwindle.”
It looked like Woods and Nike were parting ways amicably, with the clothing company wishing their former collaborator a happy “It was a hell of a round, Tiger.” Over the duration of our collaboration, we have seen firsthand, alongside the rest of the globe, how Tiger not only transformed the game of golf but also broke down barriers in all sports.
“We saw him shatter records, question accepted wisdom, and motivate countless numbers of people worldwide. We feel privileged to have shared in it. We hope the best for him going forward.
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