Nike looks at TaylorMade?

[WUTiger]

This rumor keeps surfacing: Nike wants to buy TaylorMade.

I first saw talk of this on GolfWRX in August. After 21 quick replies to the initial posting in a 5-hour window, the GW moderators locked the topic. (Probably the lock came after someone suggested Nike would rebrand TM clubs as Nike to advance their market position.   ... Nike only had 3% of golf club market share at its exit.)

Next I found the topic in Golf Central, but it ended up being a rather silly comedy spoof.

Now, I get a couple minutes of comment from a clubfitter at a local golf shop. He expects that Nike will clear out all remaining golf clubs, and then buy TaylorMade, and let its Nike apparel fill the market gap left when TM exits Adidas.

Anyone heard anything about Nike and TaylorMade?

[krupa]

I have heard nothing but I think Nike is going to pass on TM and just focus on what they're good at:  stupidly expensive shoes and clothes.  

[Kalnoky]

If they do buy it I hope they don't re-brand. The TM name is iconic in golf.

They left the Converse name alone so I hope they will leave TM alone too. 

[boogielicious]

8 minutes ago, krupa said:

I have heard nothing but I think Nike is going to pass on TM and just focus on what they're good at:  stupidly expensive shoes and clothes.  

Their stuff is expensive retail, but just like TM drivers, you can find them half price a few months later.

[krupa]

3 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Their stuff is expensive retail, but just like TM drivers, you can find them half price a few months later.

(Stupidly expensive) / 2 = just expensive. 

[dkolo]

21 minutes ago, krupa said:

(Stupidly expensive) / 2 = just expensive. 

I just bought a pair of Tour 360 Boost shoes for myself for $103 and for my girlfriend for $89 on Amazon. They still haven't been replaced as Taylormade / Adidas's flagship model, as best as I can tell. That's a damn good price for high end golf shoes. Taylormade / Adidas is still doing a number on itself with its pricing / inventory management.

It would be weird to see Nike replace Adidas as the apparel side of Taylormade's brand. Both brands tend to have the same athletic appeal, but I don't know if Nike buying a brand from their biggest competitor fits with Nike's challenger brand mentality or reputation. Then again, it would make sense in light of Jason Day's recent Nike / Taylormade split contract, but not with letting Rory and Tiger go off and signing conflicting contracts with Callaway and Bridgestone.

[shanksalot]

I have heard the TM/Nike rumor, but also even sillier I have heard Tiger is putting together a group to buy TM. Why on earth would Tiger want that headache?

[mvmac]

This rumor has been around for years. I don't know, seems like Nike isn't interested in the golf equipment business anymore or maybe they got out of making hard goods so they could acquire a brand that is successful in selling golf equipment.

If I had to guess I would say they aren't buying TM and will just focus on their apparel. They want out of the hard goods biz for the same reasons Adidas does.