Would Nike Golf exist without Tiger?

[jsherman02]

I am not out to insult Nike, but was wondering the thoughts of others regarding the constant negative comments on Nike Golf. That got me thinking, what would happen if TW left Nike? Would they survive?

 

I think they would, but TW is the driving force for sure.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Absolutely. I see far less Nike clothes and equipment at the course than most other BIG OEM name brands.

[JamesFoote]

There is no doubt that Tiger is the driving force behind Nike golf. But i think, being such a massive company that Nike is, they would have eventually broken into golf whether Tiger was with them or not. Without Tiger, i don't think they would have offered higher quality clubs like the forged blade and would have been even more geared towards GI equipment.

 

Just my thoughts

[billybaroo]

I think he helped them make the splash, get off the ground, and fast forward their golf credibility level. Would they have grown this fast without him, IMO no. They could survive without him today.

 

Celebrity endorsements are a risky marketing move as the human factor is unpredictable (Kobe Bryant and his rape case, Ray Lewis and his manslaughter case, Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, etc...) though putting a face to a brand can help people with the emotional bond branding people love. Nike has the cash to keep him on board and develop products to keep him happy for a while.

[Skaffa77]

Yeah, I think it's realistic to say Nike would struggle to have the "presence" without TW, but as demonstrated last week at the Match Play tournament, they have a strong stable of players and at this point could make it.

[Mizgoodie]

what did tank johnson do?

[jsherman02]

what did tank johnson do?

 

 

gun charges...

[Deadpool_25]

I think they are as strong as they are because they have TW on contract and HAD to produce good clubs for him. That led to the hiring of Tom Stites which led to them producing good stuff. I think the urgency to get Tiger some playable clubs (and balls!) is why they are where they are. Not many other players, maybe no others, could have pushed the company to produce quality the way Tiger has.

 

So I think if not for TW, they'd still be second or third rate gear. Now though, they're firmly entrenched with the other major OEMs. If Tiger left, unless he seriously bad mouthed Nike (neither of which is likely to happen), they'd be just fine.

[itsSKYLINEtime]

I think they would still survive just because now they are so established in the market. Obviously sales would go down but they would still be one of the top OEMs. Now on the other hand if TW was never with NIKE in the first place i cant see them in golf at all.

[Giantbear]

I think they would still survive just because now they are so established in the market. Obviously sales would go down but they would still be one of the top OEMs. Now on the other hand if TW was never with NIKE in the first place i cant see them in golf at all.

 

I agree with all but the last point. Nike would have eventually broken into golf, they just may have done it differently since they would not have had the big splash of Tiger.

 

I like Nike apparel and sneakers. Their clubs and i don't really get along, but that's ok, their are other company's whose clubs don't fit my game as well.

[TaylorMadeTP]

Nike would probly just be making golf appareal, not clubs if it wasn't for tiger.

[stage1350]

I don't see Tiger as the driving force behind their R&D. Duval was playing the blades before Tiger. And with the exception of a LTD set of irons/driver and his signature wedges, the retail lines are not TW stamped.

 

I'd concede that they might lose some market share without Tiger, but they would survive as a company, just like Ping, Mizuno, and Titleist did after Tiger stopped using their equipment.

[zenman4711]

Nike would survive if TW left--without a doubt, They are a huge company with deep pockets that can keep any division going if they really wanted to. Would they have gotten into equipment if not for Tiger, I think so. They probably would've purchased a company and rolled it into the Nike umbrella. Nike owns a lot of companies that you wouldn't normally associate with them including Hurley, Cole-Hahn, Bauer and probably a couple more I've never heard of.

 

As for quality, they definitely don't scrimp on money when it comes to R&D for their products. I've been to their "campus" in Oregon a few times and the research facilities they have for their footwear and outdoor product lines are pretty impressive.

[mr.beasley]

i didnt know they had hurley... good thing i don't own any! seriously though i don't mind most of their apparel, i wouldnt touch the shoes and if they came out with some clubs that agreed with me i don't think i'd be adverse to playing them... tiger for sure played a huge role in how the company was shaped... i think they'd survive without him, but obviously it would damage them... i mean, think about buick! if he left they'd crumble in a week!

[angry_bush]

What Nike and TW has done is get the kiddies onto golf, now due to TW they see Nike is synonymous with golf. But Nike do always leech onto the biggest player in the game, bbll they have Jordan, Nike Fed-ex... it keeps going.

If there was no TW at all they would of taken the next biggest star, but the fact TW is that good is why Nike Golf boomed to the degree that it had

[KC duffer]

I agree with TaylorMade TP, I think if Tiger didn't exist, Nike would never have spent the money to get into the club and ball manufacturing business. They would have just focused on apparel.

[jsherman02]

I don't see Tiger as the driving force behind their R&D. Duval was playing the blades before Tiger. And with the exception of a LTD set of irons/driver and his signature wedges, the retail lines are not TW stamped.

 

I'd concede that they might lose some market share without Tiger, but they would survive as a company, just like Ping, Mizuno, and Titleist did after Tiger stopped using their equipment.

 

 

It is funny you mentioned their campus....I met with some important people in their golf department and discussed this very subject. I am not sure if NIKE would have or would not have gotten into clubs, but they have made strides in the apparel and shoe market since TW entered the picture.

 

NIKE is the number one apparel company in golf, so they know how to do that side of their business.

 

I think an issue they have is Tom Stites designs every club...irons, wedges, drivers, putters, etc. EVERYTHING.

 

They also do not have dedicated persons assigned to a specific area in clubs, ie putters, wedges and so on.

 

They have some new(er) people high up and I would not be suprised at all if they (Nike) is one of the top 3 in the next 5 years.