Everyone remembers the fist pumps and the clutch putts, but nothing signaled danger in golf like Tiger Woods in red. That shirt, after all, was a warning. While fans always understood what the red meant on the course, only a few could imagine how it came into being!

Woods once explained, "I've worn red ever since my college days, basically, or junior golf days, big events on the last day. I just stuck with it out of superstition, and it worked. I just happened to choose a school that actually was red, and we wore red on our final day of events. So it worked out." But there was something more to it.

However, it wasn't just a ritual! Rather, his mother, Kultida, believed red was his protective color, charging Tiger Woods with good energy. He explained, "I wear red on Sundays because my mom thinks that is my power color...you should always listen to your mom."

Thus, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, “Sunday Red” had become more than superstition. Well, it was a psychological marker for the final-round version of Tiger. The one who amassed 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 majors. Over time, the color became part of Tiger's identity. And that identity eventually became the foundation for a new chapter of his life.

By early 2024, after more than 27 years with Nike, Tiger quietly prepared to close the chapter that had defined his look since the mid-90s. When the split became official in February, speculation erupted. Would he sign with another giant? Would he reinvent his image? Or would the red shirt fade into history?

However, Tiger Woods did something unexpected! Instead of stepping under another brand’s banner, he stepped out on his own. And finally, on February 12, 2024, his ritual turned into Sun Day Red. Built in partnership with TaylorMade, the brand is for anybody who leads an active lifestyle, whether on the course or off the course, be it at the gym, in the office, or anywhere.

How does the brand plan to do this? Well, as per their website, it described itself as, "A brand that promises to bring a new and elevated standard to performance wear and luxury lifestyle fashion." That's not all. They also promised, "Never-before-seen patterns, fabrication and technical detailing intended to elevate all levels of play."

Speaking about the launch, Tiger had said, "It's the right time in my life. It's transitional. I'm not a kid anymore. I want to have a brand I'm proud of going forward." And it does pay a small tribute to the golf legend. The logo is a mark of Tiger Woods' on-course journey. It is a tiger marked with 15 stripes, one for each major championship Tiger has won.

From small beginnings of following his mother's words, Woods has come a long way to create his legacy. What do you think of this superstition? Let us know in the comments below!

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar