- Tiger Woods ended a five-year winning drought with a resounding victory at the PGA Tour Championship on Sunday.
- While many had doubted whether Woods would ever be competitive again, he sent a convincing message that he is indeed back.
- Nike released a new ad celebrating the win and playing on the doubts about Woods' career.
The longtime Nike athlete Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour Championship on Sunday, ending a five-year winning drought and putting him two wins away from tying Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour wins.
Nike released a brilliant tribute to the star in response to his win and his notable climb up the World Golf Rankings.
The two-panel Instagram ad plays on the uncertainty of Woods' comeback. The first photo features the words "He's done" behind the golfer's back, while the second shows Woods celebrating his latest victory and completes the sentence with "it again."
Woods has been with the sportswear giant since turning pro in 1996, and Nike most recently signed him to a $200 million endorsement deal in 2013. The company has notably stood by Woods despite his many controversies, including DUI charges last year.
Nike capitalised on what was already a moving moment for the 14-time major winner. As he walked the fairway on the 18th hole on Sunday afternoon, a large crowd began chanting his name and swarming onto the course. The ensuing cheering from spectators was uncharacteristic of a golf tournament crowd.
"All of a sudden it started hitting me that I was going to win the tournament, and I started tearing up a little bit," Woods told NBC after the win, adding: "I just can't believe I pulled this off after the seasons I've gone through. It's been tough. I've had a not-so-easy last couple of years, and I've worked my way back."
Woods' comeback has reinvigorated speculation that he could break Jack Nicklaus' record for the most major wins of all time, with 18 — a feat Nicklaus described as "realistic." As the early favourite to win the 2019 Masters, Woods may already be headed in that direction.
Receive a single WhatsApp every morning with all our latest news: click here.
Also from Business Insider South Africa:
- South African 'alpha male' will run the world's biggest gold miner
- 10 massive projects the Chinese are funding in Africa - including railways and a brand-new city
- 50% of SA's dams aren't safe to swim in - you can check dam water quality in real time on this website
- Coca-Cola buys a kombucha maker as drinkers ditch sugary soda
- Amazon plants fake packages in delivery trucks as part of an undercover ploy to 'trap' drivers who are stealing