Ruby Sports & Entertainment

Tiger Woods’ former agent says Nike’s founder tried to cut him out of the biggest endorsement deal in golf history “Phil Knight told Earl Woods: ‘Do the deal with us directly. You don’t need IMG. Save the commission.’” Hughes Norton: “We spent almost a year convincing Nike to bet on Tiger before he even turned pro.” “I asked for $50 million over five years. They said it was ridiculous… then came back with $40 million.” “The contract was basically finished when Earl Woods called me.” “He said a Nike executive came to his house with a message from Phil Knight: ‘Do the deal with us directly.’” “That was backstabbing of the highest order.” “Then Earl said something I’ll never forget: ‘We have to trust somebody… and we trust you.’”