Shortly after ending a 27-year run of wearing NIKE gear, Tiger Woods has selected his subsequent attire touchdown spot.
Woods has introduced an expanded partnership with TaylorMade, a model set to make its first significant entrance into the attire area. The 15-time main champion has performed TaylorMade golf equipment relationship again to 2017—now he would be the face of its new Sun Day Red apparel line.
The road will launch on Could 1.
“It’s the proper time in my life,” Woods mentioned Monday at an unveiling get together. “It’s transitional. I’m not a child any extra. I need to have a model I’m pleased with going ahead.”
In keeping with TaylorMade CEO David Abeles, the brand new model is a separate vertical inside TaylorMade’s holding firm. It’s primarily based in San Clemente, California, somewhat than TaylorMade’s Carlsbad headquarters, and can have its personal workers.
“This model stands alone,” Abeles mentioned. “It’s unbiased of TaylorMade… we’re going to dawn a model tonight that may reside with us, our lives, our households, everyone for generations to return.”
The announcement was made this night as match week on the Genesis Invitational has commenced. Woods, host of the occasion, is making his first official PGA Tour begin since final 12 months’s Masters.
Final month, 4 trademark purposes for a brand new Solar Day Crimson model had been submitted to america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) by TaylorMade Way of life Ventures LLC. The first emblem within the utility was shared broadly on social media, and that was certainly the emblem that got here to mild Monday. There are 15 stripes within the emblem to characterize every main victory in Tiger’s profession.
Throughout a media occasion in Los Angeles, a variety of attire—from polos to hoodies—was on show.
When Woods signed with TaylorMade seven years in the past, the deal included an possession stake within the firm. Abeles known as this newest enterprise with Woods, “a full-blown unequivocal partnership.”
It’s been a poorly stored secret that TaylorMade, a longtime tools producer since 1979, would enter the attire market. Indicators grew to become extra apparent in current months as job postings popped up for positions of their new attire division.
Brad Blankinship, who beforehand led strains akin to Quiksilver and RVCA, has been appointed president of Solar Day Crimson.
Woods had worn NIKE attire since turning professional in 1996. He made a reported $500 million all through the lifetime of the deal, together with $200 million in his 10-year contract renewal that started in 2013.
That deal expired final month as Woods and NIKE opted to go separate methods. It was one among most iconic athlete-brand relationships in sports activities historical past.
Woods performed NIKE tools from the early 2000’s by way of 2016 when the corporate left the hard-goods enterprise. That opened the door for Woods to signal with TaylorMade. Aside from his Bridgestone golf ball and Scotty Cameron putter, Woods has used TaylorMade gear since 2017.
TaylorMade has a really restricted attire presence with athleisure gadgets on their web site, however they haven’t been producing significant on-course attire. Adidas acquired TaylorMade in 1997 however offered the corporate off to KPS Capital Companions in 2017.
Previous to 2017, NIKE golfers wore NIKE attire and TaylorMade golfers wore adidas attire—however the sale opened the door for crossovers, permitting Woods to put on NIKE attire whereas taking part in TaylorMade golf equipment.
Now Woods can have TaylorMade golf equipment and attire. He’ll debut the new threads at Riviera Nation Membership this week.
“I’ve realized a lot through the years and have a lifetime of expertise adjusting my attire and footwear to assist me play higher primarily based on the way in which it was constructed,” Woods mentioned in a launch. “There are issues that I might let you know that nobody knew I used to be doing through the years. I’m able to share these secrets and techniques with the world. Solar Day Crimson will embody a love of taking part in and competing, and we’re for those that share these values, whether or not it’s on the course, or in life. We can be anchored to placing the athlete first within the product selections we make.”
There are a number of different notable TaylorMade athletes who put on NIKE attire, together with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda.
There may be hypothesis NIKE might be getting out of the golf attire area totally. Jason Day, a longtime wearer of NIKE, recently left the Swoosh to sign with Malbon. NIKE lately introduced plans to chop $2 billion in prices over the subsequent three years, which would come with layoffs of a whole bunch of staff.
