Did Rory Sabbatini leave Nike golf or did they drop him because of all the issues with Tiger?

Question

I don't know if he added Adams golf to his endorsement but I saw him last night and he had on a Adams golf phizer where he normally wears a Nike one. Personnally if i had a guy calling out Tiger, I drop him like a bag of rocks.

Answer 1

They actually mentioned that Nike decided not to renew his contract but they didn't specifically say if the controversy with Tiger was the cause.  I doubt very highly that if this was the case that they would say so.  Personally I think Nike didn't want them both because of their feud so it made for an easy choice for Nike.

Answer 2

The ultimate cause for the non renewal by Nike will probably never be known.  Suffice to say that when you tangle with the World #1 (and not on the golf course) there will be repercussions.  I doubt that Tiger had any direct input in Nike's decision.

Answer 3

Maybe he started all this just to get out of his Nike contract in the first place.

Answer 4

I read that Nike was pleased with Sabbatini and his likability in South Africa was good enough to drive sales (what little there are). Adams hasn't been known to throw money at tour players...so...

Perhaps, Nike trying to avoid any conflict made the proper economic decision and let Blabatini go....

Answer 5

Rory was rated in a survey by one of the major golf magazines in a question to the players on the tour as "what player do not want to be paired with" 97% said, Rory Sabbatini. He is hard to read difficult to play along side at times but very generous with his time for the troops in Iraq.

Nike is in the business to sale golf clubs and butting heads with your star endorser cannot end well. Rory should play his game and be quiet he is a good player along with the other 150 or so players on tour. Tiger is the reason the others on the tour can prosper most of the players kiss the ground Tiger walks on.

Answer 6

I heard Rory told Nike... "Do you think I can beat Tiger if he played Mizuno?"   ;-}