Nike golf timeline
1984: Nike introduces its first line of golf shoes, including one called the Turnberry.
1985: Seve Ballesteros is the first tour player to sign with Nike.
1986: Nike signs its first college golf team, the University of Georgia women.
1993: Nike takes over sponsorship of the former Ben Hogan Tour. In the first Nike Tour Championship, held at Oregon’s Pumpkin Ridge, David Duval wins.
1996: Newly turned pro, Tiger Woods signs a reported five-year, $40 million contract with Nike.
1996: Nike launches the first line of Tiger Woods shoes.
1997: Woods wins the Masters by a record 12 strokes.
1998: Nike introduces it first line of golf ball, four different versions of the Precision.
1999: Glen Day wins at Hilton Head, becoming the first player to win on Tour using a Nike ball.
1999: Nike releases a TV commercial featuring Woods juggling a golf ball with the face of his wedge for nearly 30 seconds.
May 2000: Woods announces he is switching to a Nike ball. Previously he has played Titleist.
2000-01: Woods accomplishes the “Tiger Slam,” winning the next four majors - U.S. Open, The Open, PGA Championship, Masters - with a Nike ball.
2001: Woods signs a reported five-year, $100 million extension with Nike.
July 2001: Duval, playing Nike Forged Blades in The Open, becomes the first player to win a tournament using Nike clubs.
January 2002: Nike introduces its first clubs at the PGA Merchandise Show.
2003: Nike passes Etonic to move up to No. 2 in golf footwear, behind only FootJoy.
February 2003: In an interview with Golf magazine, Woods’ rival, Phil Mickelson, says Woods “has inferior equipment. Tiger is the only player who is good enough to overcome the equipment he’s stuck with.”
2004: Nike launches its ad campaign featuring “Frank,” Tiger Woods’ talking headcover.
April 2005: Woods sinks his miracle chip shot at the 16th hole of the Masters. The ball hangs on the edge of the cup, Nike logo fully visible, before tumbling in for a birdie.
2006: Woods signs another extension with Nike.
2007: Nike is the first equipment company to introduce a square-headed driver.
2008: Cindy Davis named Nike Golf president, replacing Bob Wood.
January 2013: Rory McIlroy signs a reported 10-year, $200 million deal with Nike.
July 2013: Woods signs a fourth contract extension with Nike. Terms are not disclosed.
June 2016: Nike announces that sales at its golf division fell 8.2 percent to $706 million in the fiscal year that ended in May, making it the company’s worst performing major category
August 2016: Nike announces that it plans to “transition out” of golf equipment, instead focusing solely on its footwear and apparel business.
