Tiger Woods is close to agreeing a new deal with long-time equipment and apparel sponsor Nike, according to the ESPN.com website.
Woods’ current contract, signed in 2006, is set to expire before the end of the year and the world No.1’s agent, Mark Steinberg, said that an agreement is close to being reached that would “emphatically” keep him as golf’s highest-paid endorser.
Steinberg said: “We're down to the very, very short strokes right now… I would expect we would come out with some sort of joint announcement when we get the paperwork signed. I hope this is viewed as a pretty bold statement.”
Woods first teamed up with Nike after turning professional in 1996 and speculation had arisen that he may leave the company at the end of his current deal.
However, Steinberg dismissed this possibility with a new deal potentially being reached after the US Open, which runs from June 13-16.
Steinberg would not discuss financial terms or length of a new contract, saying only that the new deal is for multiple years.
Steinberg added: “Tiger started his professional career with Nike in 1996. He has a long way to go in his career, but I feel with the type of deal we've constructed… I feel confident that he will be with Nike for his entire career.”