Sports titan Woods’ fall rattles fans, sponsors

MIAMI, (Reuters) – Fans and colleagues of golfer  Tiger Woods yesterday lamented the stunning fall from grace  of one of the world’s sporting titans, and commercial sponsor  Gillette said it would limit his role in its marketing.

The announcement by Procter & Gamble’s Gillette, which had  featured the world’s No. 1 golfer in its razor ads, was an  early sign the sex scandal engulfing Woods was already taking  its toll on his marketability as a global sports idol.

Gillette said it respected Woods’ surprise announcement on  Friday that he would take an “indefinite break” from  professional golf. Woods, 33, confessed to “infidelity” in his  marriage to his Swedish wife Elin Nordegren as allegations of  multiple extra-marital affairs rocked his life and career.

While wishing the best for Woods, who has two small  children, Gillette said: “As Tiger takes a break from the  public eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting  his role in our marketing programs.”

Other major commercial backers have said they are standing  by him, but AT&T, while also expressing support for Woods and  his family, said it is evaluating its relations with him.

Commercials featuring Woods — who has won 14 major titles  and 71 PGA Tour events, was the first athlete to earn $1  billion and is believed to be the wealthiest sports personality  in the world — have disappeared from prime-time TV.

Sports business commentator Rick Horrow told CNN golf had  “lost a billion-dollar juggernaut.” He said Woods had been  unable to defend his carefully protected private life from the  media-fuelled onslaught of sleazy allegations against him.
“It’s the most recognizable guy in the world coming up  against the Internet age,” he said.
Nevertheless, several of Woods’ biggest celebrity  endorsement sponsors, which include Nike, PepsiCo’s Gatorade  and Electronic Arts, say they continue to support their  commercial icon.

As commentators tried to count the cost of Woods’ absence  from the PGA Tour and the multibillion-dollar world of golf,  reactions from fans poured in to his website, many supportive.

“Tiger, we’ll miss you very much. Come back soon!”, one  supporter wrote. “Tiger, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday.  Enjoy your time off,” said another, referring to Woods’  upcoming 34th birthday on Dec. 30.

‘GOLF NEEDS HIM’

As the world watched open-mouthed, Woods’ carefully  cultivated image crumbled in the short space of two weeks as a  parade of up to 13 women — from cocktail waitresses to porn  stars — came forward to say they had had flings with the  married father of two.

On his website on Friday, Woods admitted for the first time  to “infidelity” after earlier admitting “transgressions.” He  did not mention specific affairs, but asked for forgiveness and  said he would leave golf for an indefinite period “to focus my  attention on being a better husband, father, and person”.

Sports fans and pundits are asking just how “indefinite”  Woods’ absence from the golf circuit will be, given big-draw  events next year like the San Diego Open in January, the U.S.  Open at Pebble Beach in June and the British Open at St Andrews  in July — the last two his favourite venues.