Tiger Woods signs endorsement deal with Bridgestone Golf

Tiger Woods has signed his first equipment endorsement deal post-Nike Golf’s exit from the space, signing a multi-year deal to play Bridgestone Golf’s Tour B330-S golf ball.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Woods will be used in marketing campaigns to promote the ball and the company.

After conducting golf-ball testing on his own, Woods played the B330-S golf ball in his return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge. Woods found it to be the best option for him and was not involved with the company in that process.

“Finding the right golf ball is extremely important,” said Woods in a release announcing the deal. “It’s an essential part of my equipment, and the Bridgestone B330-S ball is hands-down the best for my game. Controlling launch and trajectory is critical, and with this ball I feel I have total control to hit all shots accurately. I’m not just here to play – I’m here to win, and the innovative breakthroughs of the Bridgestone B330-S ball can help me do that.”

Woods had a modest showing in his return, finishing 15th among 17 players to complete the event. However, he topped the field in birdies along with winner Hideki Matsuyama. Woods has always preferred a ball that delivers a little more spin than the modern Tour ball. The B330-S model, which is built for players with swing speeds over 105 mph, can deliver that to Woods’ liking without sacrificing distance off the tee.

“As of right now, I’m longer than I’ve ever been. I’m about 6 yards longer,” Woods said.

It’s likely club endorsement deals are coming, too. In the Bahamas, Woods played TaylorMade M2 woods while sticking with his old Nike VR Pro blade gamers.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.