Tiger Woods may be ready to launch his apparel line and more with equipment partner TaylorMade if recent moves by the company at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are any indication.

As reported by SGB Media earlier this month, Woods and Nike parted ways after 27 years, ending their apparel partnership. Tiger was at the end of a ten-year, $200 million contract he signed with Nike in 2013.  Woods has been using TaylorMade golf equipment since 2017. He has been wearing FootJoy golf shoes since the 2022 Master’s tournament.

In January 2023, SGB Media reported that TaylorMade made a “material investment” in PopStroke, a putting and dining venue backed by Woods. The speculation that the golf company and Tiger could soon see a partnership deal for a line of Tiger Woods products is supported by the recent actions by the company to secure trademarks for the brand name “Sunday Red,” a nod to Tiger’s ubiquitous polo color worn on his Sunday golf rounds, and a new logo that reflects a digital image of a tiger.

TaylorMade Lifestyle Ventures LLC submitted three trademark applications on January 18, 2024, each including a potential new logo for Sunday Red. 

Taylor Made made an initial trademark application for the name “SUNDAY RED” in caps in mid-December but did not specify the font style or case. The application is defined as “New” and awaiting an examining attorney’s assignment.

The three new potential Tiger logos are specified the same way. The first features the sketch of a leaping tiger with the letters “S”, “D” and “R”. 

The second includes the drawing of a tiger without letters. 

The third reads “SUN DAY RED,” with the words separated by spaces and each word in all caps.

SGB Media found an earlier application by Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc. in 2005 for the SUNDAY RED name, but abandoned in December 2007. That application was for categories that included “Golf equipment, namely golf clubs, golf grips, putters, shafts, golf balls, golf gloves, golf tees, golf club covers, and golf bags.”

The application was listed as “Abandoned” after publication because the applicant filed an express abandonment.

SGB Media also found a Nike, Inc, application for the SUNDAY RED name in July 2009 and abandoned in January 2011 for: “Footwear; apparel, namely, pants, shorts, shirts, t-shirts, polos, pullovers, sweatshirts, skirts, sweaters, jackets, socks, headwear, gloves, belts, coats, vests;” and well as “Golf clubs, golf balls, golf gloves, golf club grips, golf bags, golf tees, head covers for golf clubs, golf ball markers; sports balls, bags specially adapted for carrying sports equipment and sports balls; divot repair tool for golfers.”

The owner of the trademark application (Nike, Inc.) withdrew (e.g., abandoned) the application and is no longer active, according to USPTO documentation.

A trademark registration currently exists for Sunday Red held by EC Trade Co., LLC in Charlotte, NC, that was registered in September 2009 and includes “Golf caps; Golf cleats; Golf shirts; Golf shoes; Golf spikes; Golf trousers,” according to the USPTO data.

The application in December 2023 and the others submitted last week by TaylorMade Lifestyle Ventures, LLC cover a broader range of categories than all prior applications, including:

  • Eyewear, eyeglasses, sunglasses, eyeglass frames, sunglass frames, cell phone cases; Luggage, purses, wallets, bags for sports, handbags, umbrellas;
  • Clothing, namely, shirts, shorts, pants, jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants, joggers, skirts, dresses, hoodies, sports jackets, polos, golf shirts, golf pants; footwear; headwear;
  • Sports equipment, namely, golf clubs, golf club grips, golf balls, golf gloves, golf tees, golf club head covers, golf bags, and golf club shafts; and
  • Retail store services and online retail store services, selling apparel, headwear, footwear, accessories, bags, golf equipment, and golf accessories.

Notably, the new filing includes retail store services. Only time will tell if the existing Sunday Red trademark will stymie plans for a new line of Tiger products or if TaylorMade and Tiger Woods can overcome that potential obstacle to seeing their partnership expand to include the PopStroke venture and make a bigger bet on Sunday Red retail, Sunday Red restaurants and Sunday Red merchandise to sell through those venues as well as traditional distribution for golf products.

Photo courtesy Tiger Woods/ Logos courtesy U.S. Patent and Trademark Office