While we don’t know when Tiger Woods’ next start might be, we do know one piece of gear he won’t be changing when does return.
Bridgestone, Woods’ longtime maker of golf balls, announced it had re-signed the 15-time major champion, along with four other staffers, to play the company’s Tour B X golf ball.
Woods and Bridgestone have a long history as the company is now Woods’ longest-running gear sponsor since he split with Nike at the end of 2023. Woods first signed with Bridgestone in December 2016 after Nike left the hard goods business earlier that year, but Woods later confirmed it was indeed Bridgestone who manufactured the Nike-branded golf balls he was playing.
“I have played a ball manufactured by Bridgestone since my memorable 2000 season. Since the beginning, Bridgestone has continued to innovate and lead the golf ball category in terms of technology, performance, and consistency,” Woods said in a press release announcing his extension. “They are great at what they do, and I look forward to continuing to work with their R&D team to design industry-leading golf balls.”
Upon signing with Bridgestone, Woods initially played the Tour B330 S golf ball which was eventually updated to the Tour B XS ball Woods won twice with in 2019, including his 15th major title at the Masters. But early last year at the Genesis Invitational, after testing during a 2022 edition of the Match, Woods switched to the lower-spinning Tour B X after seeing an additional 10 yards of carry.
“I am always seeking more distance off the tee and more control around the green, that’s the Holy Grail, and what Bridgestone’s delivered with the new Tour B X,” Woods said last year.
Both the Tour B X and Tour B XS are urethane-covered Tour-level three-piece golf balls designed for players with over 105 mph swing speed (players swinging slower than that are targeted for the Tour B RX line). The Tour B XS is the higher-spinning softer option while the Tour B X is firmer, spins less and is faster.
In addition to Woods, Bridgestone also announced that Matt Kuchar, Fred Couples, Boo Weekley and Chris Gotterup are also extending with the brand. All four will continue playing the Tour B X or Tour B XS golf balls, while Gotterup continues to play the recently released forged Bridgestone 221 CB irons, the first new clubs the company has released in five years.
Bridgestone is also adding Harry Hall and Kurt Kitayama to it’s PGA Tour staff to play golf balls.
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