NOT SO SOCIAL: Following his re-ascension to the No. 1 ranking, Tiger Woods is featured in a new Nike ad with a quote from him, “Winning takes care of everything.” The ad has drawn criticism on social media in light of his past marital indiscretions. (AP)
Tiger Woods and Nike opened themselves up to an industrial-sized can of social media whoop-ass yesterday after the company released an online ad displaying a picture of the golfer with a quote attributed to him: “Winning takes care of everything.”
Woods returned to the world’s No. 1 ranking — for the first time since his personal and professional lives imploded in late 2009 — with his victory Monday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And Nike wasted little time trumpeting his re-ascension with the ad, which was posted on Facebook and Twitter and quickly went viral.
Its message was as clear as a 9-iron to the face of a cheating spouse on Thanksgiving night: Tiger can do anything he wants so long as he wins. And if he wins, then nothing else really matters.
By 11 p.m. yesterday, the ad had received more than 8,500 likes on Facebook and generated hundreds of comments.
Some congratulated Woods for his recent success while others called out him and Nike for what they felt was the ad’s insensitivity in light of Woods’ serial philandering. The lurid details of his affairs made Woods and his harem tabloid fodder for months after his infidelity was exposed and led to the dissolution of his five-year marriage to Elin Nordegren.
Woods — who last week took to Facebook and Twitter to announce he was dating Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn — and Nordegren have two children together.
In response to the ad’s message winning fixes all, @MrFoxNYC wrote on Twitter, “Except the marriage and family u destroyed.”
Tweeted @JustJeniA: “I don’t care how much Tiger Woods wins…he’ll always be a pig of the worst kind! #theFive.”
A mother, wife and PGA member posted a comment on Nike’s Facebook page expressing her disappointment in the company.
“I do take GREAT issue with the message you put out here and what it says to the younger generations. It’s not even a matter of being too soon … it’s just wrong. I hope you recognize your lapse in judgment and pull this ad.’’
In a statement, Nike spokesman Beth Gast defended the ad.
“Tiger has always said he competes to win. When asked about his goals such as getting back to number one, he has said consistently winning is the way to get there. The statement references that sentiment and is a salute to his athletic performance.”
Nike stuck by Woods throughout the scandal. More recently, the company severed its relationships with PED cheat Lance Armstrong and accused killer Oscar Pistorius.
And while many online yesterday politely lauded Woods for climbing back to No. 1, those who simply don’t like him held nothing back.
“Cheat on your wife with pornstars and got caught?……no problem….win 5 golf tournaments and everything will be OK,” wrote one Facebook poster.
Wrote another: “It doesn’t change the fact that he was, is, and always will be a scum bag!”
* Rory McIlroy sent a text message to Woods, congratulating him on taking over the No. 1 world ranking again. Woods responded by telling McIlroy, according to a tweet from a writer at the Houston Chronicle, to “get my finger out of my ass & win this week.”
A victory at the Houston Open would put McIlroy back at No. 1.