Sacked Tiger Woods agent reveals 20-year-old's hilarious reaction to $40m Nike deal

A 20-year-old Tiger Woods reportedly yawned and seemed more interested in watching SportsCenter when he was offered his first $40m contract with Nike, according to his first agent.

The majority of golf fans are likely aware Mark Steinberg has been Woods' agent throughout his hall of fame career that has seen him win 15 majors and 82 PGA Tour titles.

Steinberg was hired by Woods in 1998 but before that Hughes Norton was the man responsible for negotiating the teenage sensation's endorsement deals. 

Norton opened up on the topic in a recent appearance on GOLF's Subpar. 

He explained he met Woods and his parents Earl and Tida when he was 12 years old and built up a trusting relationship with the family as he grew up and dominated the AGJA circuit. 

After turning pro following his time at Stanford, Woods received his first endorsement proposals from Norton.

According to Norton, he told the Woods family there was $40m offer from Nike and a deal with Titleist.

He explained to a teenage Woods and his father that the $8m shoe deal was four to five times larger than the top-ranked players in the world at that point (Greg Norman and Nick Faldo) were earning.

Woods' reaction?

"Complete indifference," Norton said. "It was — I sat in the hotel suite. It was the night before he went out to play his first round as a pro, the pro-am at Milwaukee, 1996. 

"I had three contracts. I had a $40m fully guaranteed deal from Nike, a $20m fully guaranteed deal from Titleist, and the IMG representation contract.

"And we went through them page by page, and really, I said indifference, it's kind of boredom as we go through.

"Not so much Earl, but Tiger kind of yawning and wondering when SportsCenter’s gonna come on. You know, he's 20 years old. He had no frame of reference whatsoever for this, and I kept trying to put it in perspective.

"I would say, Tiger, just so you know, this $8m a year for shoes and clothes from Nike is four to five times what the No. 1 guys in the world right now in your sport are making, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman. 

"How do I know that? Because they both were clients of IMG. And it was like, eh. Finally, sign them out, and I said, 'Well, what do you think?' He said, 'It's not bad, huh?' Then he got up and went and watched TV."

Norton was sacked by Woods in 1998 and he told the podcast he's still unsure why. 

Woods ended his 27-year partnership with Nike in January 2024.

Nike remained loyal to Woods during the ups and downs in his career, including the sex scandal that emerged when he was at the peak of his powers in 2009.

Woods is now with Sun Day Red.

Tiger Woods makes visit to Augusta

Woods is currently out of action and recovering from his latest surgery. 

He ruptured his Achilles in March and has not announced when he is targeting a return to the course.

In the meantime, Woods has been keeping busy with his many business ventures.

Before the 2025 Masters, it was announced that Woods would oversee the build of a new short course and TGR learning lab at Augusta National. 

Woods visited the site this week with Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley. 

Work is expected to be completed within 12 months. 

The design will be called The Loop at the Patch. 

Tiger Woods' son qualifies for US Junior amateur

Tiger Woods' teenage son Charlie is heading back to the US Junior Amateur for the second year in a row. 

The 16-year-old took part in a qualifier this week and even had to overcome a three-man playoff to book his spot in the prestigious event. 

Tiger won the US Junior Amateur three years in a row. 

The 2025 US Junior Amateur will be played over 21-26 July at Trinity Forest in Dallas.

Charlie will be looking to improve on his performance last year where he shot rounds of 82-80 to miss the cut. 

The US Junior Amateur features a field of 264 players.