Questions Surrounding Tiger Woods Losing Sponsorships

Tiger Woods, the richest athelete in the world, has gained the vast majority of his revenue from ads. Even if you’ve never watched a single golf game, you know who he is primarily through advertising. With the recent alleged affairs and possible DWI under his belt, Woods’ contracts may be in jeopardy, says The Week:

Commentators are questioning whether corporate partners such as Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, and AT&T will stand by him as the list of alleged Woods’ mistresses grows. Can Woods, who’s acknowledged “transgressions,” hang onto his rich package of endorsement deals? (Watch a report)

However, his sponsors have gained too much from Woods despite his “transgressions,” says Business Insurance:

Despite his personal indiscretions, Mr. Woods’ corporate sponsors, including Nike Inc., Gatorade Co. and Procter & Gamble Co., said last week that they will continue to support Mr. Woods, who also has two children.

USA Today says that many of his personal colleagues will still support Woods even after the scandal:

Kenny Perry said it will “be interesting to see how he handles this.”

“This is a totally different knock on him when he gets out there and plays next year,” Perry said. “Is this going to make him stronger? We don’t know. We’ll find out. Is this really going to get inside his head a little bit and really going to mess with him? Are crowds going to verbally abuse him out there on the golf course? We don’t know. I think the sponsors will hang with him.

“I don’t think it’s going to change our Tour next year at all.”

Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, told the New Zealand Herald that he will support his boss, who, Williams said, confided in him since the accident. Williams, who has caddied for Woods for 10 years, said he expects to be on his player’s bag in February at the San Diego Open at Torrey Pines.

In Woods’ latest post on his website, which appeared Sunday, he thanked sponsors, volunteers, staff and fans for their support of the tournament.