© Getty Images Sport – Warren Little / Staff
For about two weeks, an unusual situation has occurred involving some well-known names on the PGA Tour, in relation to the termination or possible termination of their relationships with some historic sponsors. The news that triggered this series of events was the loud end of the long-standing 27-year partnership between Nike and Tiger Woods.
This split attracted a lot of attention, as it was one of the most celebrated sponsorship partnerships in golf. The last occasion on which Woods was seen wearing the famous red polo with the swoosh logo was at the PNC Championship, even if he did not officially confirm the end of the contract.
He simply responded to questions by saying, “I’m still wearing their products.”
Pga Tour, sponsor
Nike’s choice appears to be the result of the company’s gradual withdrawal from golf, which began a few years ago with golf equipment.
Three days ago, it was Xander Schauffele who caught the eye, wearing Descente clothes during the test rounds of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions in Hawaii, instead of the Adidas clothes, whose logo is still visible on his social channels.
Descente currently has Danny Willett and Danielle Kang under contract. Soon after, Jason Day announced the end of his contract with Nike, which began in 2017, instead becoming an ambassador for Malbon Golf, another US brand.
Day’s comment leaves no room for doubt about his satisfaction in wearing clothing different from that traditionally associated with the world of golf. Finally, Rickie Fowler said goodbye to two major sponsors on the PGA Tour: Farmers Insurance, a sponsor since 2015, and Rocket Mortgage, a sponsor since 2010.
The logos of both brands disappeared from his hatbox and polo shirt. It is difficult to provide a definitive explanation for these separations, but a common element that emerges is that these are sponsors institutionally linked to the PGA Tour.
It is possible that these movements are a signal from PGA Tour players to express their dissent or to seek new sponsorship opportunities outside of traditional tour ties. The situation could evolve further in the coming weeks and months, so it will be interesting to see how it develops.
