Click to play videoNew Delhi: Golf champ Tiger Woods is getting the cold shoulder from not just his wife but his sponsors too.
In October, Forbes magazine named Woods the first athlete to earn $1 billion. However, just a quarter of it comes from golf and the rest from endorsements. But now Woods is beginning to feel that his personal life is ripping into his pay cheques as well.
There's been a total Woods wipe-out on prime-time commercials since November 29, three days after his accident.
Global consulting company Accenture has dropped him. AT&T has told him not to call while Gillette said that they could find others to shave for the camera. Gatorade is discontinuing its Tiger-themed sports drinks and Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer is examining its long-term relationship with him.
"With every new revelation, the sponsors are looking and doing some soul searching. A week ago, there was one girl he was involved with, five days ago there were three, four days ago eight. There were allegations of pain killers, nude photos, we don't know if that's true. So with every revelation the sponsors are revisiting the notion of retaining their sponsorship,” Peter Himler from Flatiron Communications said.
Only a couple of companies have decided to stand by Woods. His main sponsor, Nike, with whom he has a $40 million-a-year deal, is unlikely to cave in under pressure.
Nike said, "When his career is over, you'll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it right now."
EA Sports, which markets his video games, and NetJets have stood by Woods too.
Meanwhile, the PGA Tour is facing life without its biggest star. Current broadcast deals with CBS and NBC are being renegotiated. Ticket sales are expected to drop by 25 per cent, costing the global golf industry $591 million.
So here is Tiger Woods in 2009: No tour, a busted marriage and lonely.
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