Golf World Monday - July 4, 2011

02tiger’s new endorsement deal

if, as tiger woods said last week at the at&t national, there is no timetable for his return, it also appears as if his rehabilitation as an endorsement vehicle is equally uncertain. woods, golf’s $1 billion man thanks to lucrative sponsor relationships, unveiled his first new deal since his sex scandal unfolded, and it was not with one of the top-tier companies such as accenture, at&t, gillette or gatorade, all of whom bailed in the wake of the scandal. the deal with kowa company ltd., kicks off next month with tv commercials in Japan for “vantelin kowa,” a heat rub used for muscle pain. the value of the deal was not announced, but agent mark steinberg says it is for three years. at the peak of his popularity, any potential deal with woods started at $5 million a year for five years. clearly, times have changed. as far as his playing schedule is concerned, woods sounded as though he wouldn’t play the british open. “i’m just playing it by ear,” he said at aronimink. “i wouldn’t go over there just to show up. i’d go over there to win the golf tournament.” with only nine competitive holes played since the masters and still not hitting full shots, it seems unlikely he’ll be ready in two weeks —or even two months. —Ron Sirak