Nike blow as Tiger is driven to new club

Woods will use the Titleist, a model so old that it can only be bought in remainder bins, when he defends his Buick Open title this week. And he is likely to retain it when he chases a ninth major in the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill next month.

Languishing 128th in driving accuracy on the US PGA Tour this year, hitting the fairway just 64.5 per cent of the time, Woods said: "I wanted to go back to something I've played well with in the past. I'm looking for confidence in my driving." Stung by recent criticism that he has lost his touch in golf's major tournaments - he no longer holds any of the sport's four elite titles - Woods admitted: "The new drivers are too hot."

The Titleist 975D is one of the smallest drivers with a head measured at 260cc. Woods' Nike had a 300cc head, while New Zealander Michael Campbell won the Nissan Irish Open on Sunday using a Nike with a giant 400cc head.

Nike concede that Woods' decision has placed them under pressure. Mike Kelly, Nike's business director of golf clubs, said: "He's our number one athlete and our toughest customer.

"But he wants to make a switch. We think it's a natural phenomenon for most golfers. Whether you're the best in the world or an average golfer, you go back in the garage and find something you were successful with.

"From a brand stand point, that's where we need to circle the wagons and get a new driver in his hands but the relationship is not strained one bit."