Latest news with #Woods'
Hypebeast
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
The Next Chapter of Nike Golf Starts with Luke Clanton
Back in late January, there were signs thatNike Golfwas preparing to stage a comeback. AfterTiger Woods' long-term contract ran its course, questions began swirling about the Swoosh's staying power in the sport. But whenthe brand made a surprise splash at the PGA Show—unveiling an expansive and clearly expensive booth filled with apparel, shoes and larger-than-life banners—the golf world took notice. Sure,Nikeretained names likeScottie Scheffler,Tony FinauandNelly Korda. But who would carry the next generation? Who could bring both on-course results and, potentially one day, off-course presence? That's where Luke Clanton enters the picture. The 21-year-old Florida State standout has been a fixture on college leaderboards for the past few seasons, leading FSU through deep postseason runs and earning All-American honors in the process. With a compact, powerful swing and an undeniable maturity about him, Clanton has the skills to execute and the confidence to mix it up with the world's best players. Last summer he went on an unprecedented run where he finished inside the top 10 at consecutive TOUR events, the first time an amateur had done that since 1958. Now he's ready to turn pro as Nike Golf's newest signing (with an announcement video to boot). And while he may not be a household name yet, the partnership already feels meaningful. 'Like a dream come true,' he said of putting on the Swoosh for the first time at late February's Cognizant Classic. Weeks before making hisPGA TOURdebut at the RBC Canadian Open, Clanton sat down with Hypegolf to talk about the moment and what it means to step into the next chapter. How has it been over the last year or two balancing your journey through pro tournaments, college golf and academics? Yeah, I mean, I'll be honest I was kind of just going with it as it came. It was definitely new to me. Originally, we thought I'd have one PGA TOUR start after winning the Valspar Collegiate to get into Valspar the next year. Then, suddenly, I had 12 starts before that. So it kind of happened in a blur. Thankfully, the academic staff, coaching staff and everyone at FSU were a massive help. I was a bit lost in it all, but I had a great team behind me. Whether it was being away for a week and a half or jumping straight into a college event, the coaches made sure I was right—physically and mentally. At the beginning, I wasn't even thinking about a TOUR card. I just thought it would be cool to play in some PGA TOUR events. Then my agent came to me—I think I had four points at the time—and said we had a platform to actually get the card. I kind of laughed like, 'Well, we need 20.' And he goes, 'Yeah, we can do that.' So we started checking off boxes. By the fall, around RSM [Classic], I had my first real moment where I was like, 'Damn, I can actually contend in these events.' Getting the card at Cognizant, especially being so close to where I grew up, was just an unbelievable journey. So while the card wasn't part of the initial plan, did you always see professional golf in your future—even if the path was uncertain? In the beginning of my sophomore spring, I had only one college win and I was top 20 in the world, which was great—but my goal was just to play the best golf I could. Then I won three college events in a row that spring, and that boosted my confidence. I felt like my game was getting where I wanted it. But after losing Nationals [NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship] the way we did, I was crushed. The next week, I hadU.S. Openqualifying. I remember my mom driving me there, and I was still so down about Nationals. She looked at me and said, 'You gotta focus up. You've got three big things coming.' I ended up qualifying, and my first thought was, 'Holy crap, I'm in a major.' Then I shot 6-over in the first round. I thought I was done. Came back with a 1-under, made the cut, then shot another 1-under. Suddenly, I had a chance to win low amateur. I missed a five-footer on 18 to tie for it, so I was back to being disappointed. But the emotional rollercoaster of that week taught me a lot about expectations. Same thing at John Deere [Classic] and Rocket Mortgage [Classic]. I was contending, then frustrated not to win. But six months earlier, I'd have been thrilled just to play. Each week taught me more, and by my last start at Valspar, I felt like, 'I can win this.' I'm just trying to keep expectations in check while building confidence. After those big tournament moments, did you feel a shift in how you were seen by your college teammates when you returned to campus? Not one bit, and that was the coolest thing. When I came back after the summer, the first day of class, all the guys were there, and nothing had changed. We have a rule: no matter if you're a freshman or a senior, we treat everyone the same. That team chemistry has been so important for me. It keeps me grounded. They were obviously curious and asked how things went, but we were all still competing, all still trying to reach the same goal. You're with Nike now, but in the past you had the Good Good logo on your gear. You seem pretty tuned in to the creator community in golf. How much do you follow that space, and has it influenced you whether in mindset or social media? Funny enough, when I was 16, I DMedGarrett [Clarke]fromGood Good—back when he was still GM Golf and had maybe 100k followers—just saying, 'Hey, want to play 18 holes?' He replied, said he was in Miami, and we played. A couple months later, the whole Good Good crew came out to my home course, and I got to know them really well. I stayed in touch with Garrett and started learning about what they were doing creatively with YouTube. I think what they've done to grow the game is really impressive. A lot of people who don't watch the PGA TOUR are still watching golf on YouTube because of them. They've become a big business, doing charity events and more. Garrett helped me understand social media, helped boost my profile, and I'm really thankful for that. Playing in front of a camera is hard. It's a whole different thing. So having that experience early was super valuable. And tell me about the Nike partnership. How did that come about, and how does it feel to get to wear the Swoosh? I mean, yeah—just having the honor to wear the Swoosh has kind of been my dream growing up. You think about all the top players, all the top athletes in the world and they wear Nike. So when the opportunity came, it was incredible. I told my agent immediately, 'I'm in.' The first time I ever wore it was at the Cognizant Classic, and I remember putting it on that Thursday morning and thinking, man, this is a dream come true. Like, not only do I have a chance to earn my card, but I also get to wear Nike. I remember talking to my caddie that morning and just saying how thankful I was for everything that's happened in my life to even get to that point. It's really incredible to be a part of it. Have you gotten as far as thinking about what you're going to wear at certain moments? Is that something you're looking to take part in? A little bit, yeah. I'm definitely excited to see what Nike has coming in the future. I've actually never been a big fashion guy, which is funny to say now. But once I got signed and they started sending me some gear, I was like, damn, this is really cool. Now I'm learning every step of the way. Growing up, we didn't have much of that kind of stuff, so even just getting a nice pair of shoes or anything from the Nike store is incredible. I'm just excited to keep seeing what's next with them. And then building up to your first pro start in early June—just broadly, how are you feeling about it? What are you most looking forward to? I haven't thought about it too much, honestly, just because of everything going on with the college season. We've still got Regionals and Nationals coming up. It does creep into your mind sometimes, like when you're watching the PGA TOUR on TV and you see those guys out there. You want to be out there too. But right now, my one goal in college is to win a national championship with this team. We've been so damn close twice now. I'm super pumped for that first start at RBC, I really am, but it's hard not to stay locked in on Nationals. Once that last putt drops and hopefully we're holding that trophy, that's when I'll really start thinking about the next chapter. Until then, it's all about enjoying every moment I've got left here. Because I've got less than a month left on campus, and we're trying to soak it all in.
CNBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Three Stock Lunch: BJ's Wholesale, Uber and Palo Alto Networks
Jay Woods, Freedom Capital Markets, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss Woods' investing take on three stocks: BJ's Wholesale, Uber and Palo Alto Networks.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Johnson Wagner recreates Tiger Woods' Iconic 2000 shots live on Golf Central Postgame
This week, Golf Channel 's Johnson Wagner is bringing the legendary shots of from his record-breaking 2000 season back to life, live on Golf Central Postgame . The three-time PGA Tour winner and current analyst is recreating several of Tiger Woods' most memorable shots, showcasing the magic of Woods' 2000 season, widely considered one of the greatest in golf history. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recreating the magic of Tiger Woods' 2000 season Starting Thursday, Wagner embarks on a unique challenge: traveling to four iconic golf courses to attempt to pull off some of the most famous shots from Woods' career. These shots include legendary moments from 2000 when Woods dominated the sport like no one else. Which specific shots Wagner will recreate? Golf fans will have to tune in to find out. First recreated shots at Pebble Beach Wagner's first attempts aired live on Thursday and focused on two shots from Pebble Beach, a course famously tied to Woods' victories in 2000. The first shot recreated was from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. In that event, Woods staged a thrilling comeback, overcoming a seven-stroke deficit in the final round to defeat Matt Gogel. One of the standout moments from that performance was Tiger's incredible hole-out from 97 yards on the par-4 15th hole, a shot that kept alive his historic six-event winning streak that began in late 1999. Next, Wagner recreated one of the most iconic shots from Woods' victory in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach. Woods, who went on to win by a record-breaking 15 strokes, hit a jaw-dropping 7-iron from 205 yards in the second round, out of four-inch rough on the par-5 sixth hole. The shot was so impressive that it prompted on-course reporter Roger Maltbie to declare, 'It's just not a fair fight.' This shot is considered one of the defining moments of Woods' unparalleled dominance that year. The 'Golf Central Postgame' schedule Viewers can watch Wagner recreate more of Woods' iconic shots live throughout the weekend. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The remaining Golf Central Postgame shows, hosted by Rich Lerner and Brandel Chamblee, will air at the following times (all EDT): Friday, May 9: 6-7 p.m. Saturday, May 10: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11: 6-7 p.m. As Wagner continues his journey to revisit Woods' unforgettable 2000 shots, golf fans can expect more dramatic recreations and insider insights into one of the most dominant seasons in the sport's history.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Struggling Tiger Woods hits all-time career low with unwanted milestone
Golf legend Tiger Woods has seen his official world ranking drop to an all-time low owing to his lengthy injury lay-off, with the 49-year-old not expected back anytime soon Tiger Woods has seen his ranking reach an all-time low as a result of his hiatus from golf due to injury, it has emerged. The 15-time major winner has not played since failing to make the cut at The Open last July. Woods, 49, is currently sidelined after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon and is unsure when he will be able to resume the dazzling career that has solidified him as one of the sport's all-time greats. But his enforced absence has not stopped him from tumbling down the rankings. Woods' latest Official World Golf Ranking is 1,341. This is his lowest career ranking, with his previous low (1,328) coming back in November 2023 after spending the majority of the year out. Things could yet get worse, though, with Woods' latest issue expected to keep him out for the remainder of 2025, meaning his ranking will continue to drop lower. Woods announced his latest injury setback shortly before The Masters, which saw Rory McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam. He has since undergone surgery to repair a rupture, which was confirmed in an official statement. He said last month: "As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured. "This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon. "I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support." Woods' last appearance at Tour-level was last summer, when headed to Royal Troon for The Open. Back surgery was behind his absence before the death of his mother saw him withdraw from the Genesis Invitational back in February. His back surgery was his sixth in 10 years. He suffered extensive injuries following a horror car crash in 2021, just two years after he shocked the world to win a fifth Masters title back in 2019.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Tiger Woods reaches all-time low with unwanted career milestone
Tiger Woods has hit an undesirable milestone, reaching an all-time low in his illustrious career this week. The 15-time major winner hasn't teed it up competitively since missing the cut at The Open at Royal Troon last July and, as a result, his standing among golf's elite has taken a hit. The 49-year-old, who recently confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, slumped to his worst-ever world ranking amid his latest injury woes. Following the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, which saw Americans Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin emerge victorious at the weekend, Woods' latest Official World Golf Ranking was revealed. And it didn't paint a pretty picture as the golf great came in at No. 1,341 - the lowest of his career, according to popular golf Twitter account Nosferatu. Woods' previous low came in November 2023 when he was in 1,328th position, having sat on the sidelines for the majority of the year after being forced to withdraw from The Masters that April. He missed the major championship this year, including even the Champions Dinner, as he continued his recovery from the Achilles tear that has plunged his career into fresh doubt. It was the second time he's missed the dinner - an exclusive ritual for past winners of the tournament at Augusta National. The first was in 2021 when it was held two months after the serious car accident where he could have lost his leg. Woods revealed last month that he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles after feeling a 'sharp pain' in his left heel. In a statement, Woods said: 'As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured. 'This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon. 'I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.' Woods has not played at Tour-level since The Open last summer, with back surgery accounting for much of his lay-off before he withdrew from the Genesis Invitational in February following the death of his mother. There had been suggestions that he was lining up a return at the PGA Tour's Players Championship in Florida in March. Yet, he had indicated earlier this month that he was focusing instead on practice. Woods played alongside son Charlie to continue their annual tradition at the PNC Championship, a family exhibition, in December, returning from back surgery he underwent last September. He has swung a club competitively, albeit on a simulator rather than on the course. He competed alongside his Jupiter Links teammates in TGL - the tech-infused, indoor league he founded with Rory McIlroy - throughout its inaugural regular season. Jupiter Links, also comprised of Tom Kim, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner, failed to make the playoffs. This latest injury continues a miserable run of ailments, which included almost losing his right leg in a car accident. He has previously torn the Achilles tendon in his right ankle as well as rupturing ligaments in his left knee. Last September, Woods had a sixth back operation in 10 years. The surgery was formally referred to as 'microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine.' Woods, an 82-time winner on the PGA Tour, suffered extensive injuries from a horror, single-vehicle car crash in 2021 that broke his right leg and ankle and required emergency surgery. He later had another ankle surgery to address lingering issues in 2023, weeks after withdrawing from that year's edition of The Masters.
