Golf legend Tiger Woods and global sportswear giant Nike have brought their 27-year partnership to a close. The announcement marks the end of one of the most lucrative and enduring relationships in sports marketing history.

Woods took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his gratitude for the partnership and the experiences it brought.

"Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world. The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever," Woods said.

Nike's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Dirk-Jan van Hameren, reciprocated the sentiment on LinkedIn. He posted an image of Woods with a message of gratitude, stating, "Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking. You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge we're grateful."

In a formal statement, Nike acknowledged Woods' transformative impact on the sport of golf and his role in breaking barriers across the sporting world.

The sporting brand's relationship with Woods began in 1996 with a five-year deal worth $40 million. Over the course of their partnership, Woods is estimated to have earned around $500 million through the Nike brand partnership, according to The Guardian. His last contract with Nike, signed in 2013, was a 10-year pact reportedly worth $200 million.

Conclusion of the partner grabbed headlines worldwide, with several questioning why Woods had not been offered a lifetime contract, such as LeBron James. Others noted the iconic nature of the marketing-led partnership over the years. Yet others noted the relationship looked set to end, with Woods seen in other brand gear over recent months.