Table of Contents
Key Points
- Puma claims Woods’s Sun Day Red logo resembles its iconic leaping cat, risking consumer confusion.
- Woods’s Sun Day Red logo has faced multiple legal disputes, complicating its path to market dominance.
- Expanding through TGR Ventures and Sun Day Red, Woods is building a diverse portfolio beyond his golfing legacy.
Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer and one of the world’s few Black billionaires, is entangled in a trademark dispute with global sportswear giant Puma over his Sun Day Red brand logo.
The controversy centers around Woods’s logo, a red leaping tiger, which Puma claims is “strikingly similar” to its iconic leaping cat emblem that has represented the brand for 56 years. The German company filed a formal notice of opposition on Jan. 2, arguing that the resemblance could mislead consumers.
According to Puma, the Sun Day Red logo—designed with 15 distinct lines to honor Woods’s 15 major championship victories—creates an overlap that could cause confusion in the marketplace.
Trademark disputes and legal challenges
“Due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the overlap in the goods and services offered, consumer confusion is highly likely,” Puma stated in its filing.
This isn’t the first legal challenge for Woods’s Sun Day Red logo. Three months earlier, Tigeraire, a personal air product company, also contested the logo’s design, initiating federal litigation.
TaylorMade, Woods’s partner in the Sun Day Red venture, remains steadfast. “We feel very confident in our trademarks and logos,” the company said in a statement, expressing optimism despite the legal hurdles.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben noted that the road ahead may be complicated. “This is a significant battle,” Gerben explained. “Puma’s claim is credible, and with litigation, there’s always a risk. While logo disputes are less common than those involving names or slogans, Tiger’s high visibility makes him a likely target.”
Gerben suggested that if unresolved, the case could proceed to trial by September 2026, though a settlement remains a likely resolution.
Expanding a billion-dollar brand
Since achieving billionaire status in 2022, Woods has been deliberate about growing his wealth.
His net worth, which was estimated at $800 million in January 2022, has surged to $1.36 billion, according to Bloomberg (Forbes estimates it at $1.3 billion), placing him among the richest individuals globally.
Much of Woods’s financial success stems from a 27-year partnership with Nike. However, after parting ways with the brand in early 2024, he collaborated with TaylorMade to launch Sun Day Red, a clothing line inspired by his signature Sunday red shirt—a symbol of his dominance on the golf course.
Beyond Sun Day Red, Woods has diversified his investments through TGR Ventures. His portfolio spans golf technology, hospitality software, and upscale mini-golf ventures across the U.S., cementing his reputation as both a sports icon and a savvy entrepreneur.
