Adidas has parted ways with two of the most recognizable members of LIV Golf, Dustin Johnson and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, multiple reports said Tuesday.
Johnson, a former world No. 1, was partnered with the apparel giant for 15 years.
ESPN reported that Johnson wanted to end the sponsorship deal in favor of growing the brand of his LIV team, 4Aces.
“We’ve mutually agreed to part ways with long-time Adidas athlete, Dustin Johnson,” Adidas Golf president Jeff Lienhart said in a statement to multiple media outlets. “For more than 15 years, Dustin has been a great ambassador for the Adidas brand. We’ve had a front-row seat to see him win multiple major championships, ascend to the No. 1 ranking and cement himself as one of the best golfers in history — all while wearing the 3-Stripes. We wish Dustin nothing but success moving forward.”
A two-time major winner, Johnson has dropped to No. 54 in the Official World Golf Ranking, which is not yet giving ranking points for LIV Golf events but is reviewing the Saudi-funded league’s application.
Garcia was also sponsored by Adidas for a number of years. Adidas confirmed to news outlets that it did not renew its contract with the 2017 Masters champion.
But Adidas did not drop all its LIV members. Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who moved from the PGA Tour to LIV in August, remains with the company.
Johnson was an ambassador for Royal Bank of Canada, but they terminated the partnership in June after he defected to LIV. Critics say the upstart PGA Tour rival is an effort by Saudi Arabia to “sportswash” its poor human rights record.
LIV’s second season starts Friday with LIV Golf Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
–Field Level Media