AT&T Cuts Ties with Tiger Woods

(CBS/ AP)  AT&T Inc. said Thursday it would no longer sponsor Tiger Woods, joining Accenture in dropping support for the world's top golfer, who's taking a break from the sport to focus on his marriage after his admitted infidelity.

The phone company hasn't used Woods' image extensively in advertising, but its logo appeared on his golf bag. That deal had been billed as a "multiyear" agreement when it was signed early in 2009, after Buick ended its endorsement one year early because of its financial woes.

Woods has also been the host of the AT&T National PGA Tour event since it started in 2007. Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said that since Woods is on indefinite leave from professional golf, he will not serve as host for the 2010 event. However, his Tiger Woods Foundation will continue to be the beneficiary of the AT&T National, under a contract that runs through 2014, Votaw said.

AT&T said it would continue to sponsor the event.

Woods won the 2009 AT&T National in July at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. The AT&T National is moving to Aronomick Country Club outside Philadelphia the next two years as Congressional prepares to host the 2011 U.S. Open.

AT&T has also been the presenting sponsor of the annual Tiger Jam concert event in Las Vegas.

AT&T, which is based in Dallas, did not comment on its reasons for dropping Woods, or how much the relationship was worth.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, had no comment on AT&T's decision.

Consulting firm Accenture dropped the athlete two weeks ago, saying he was "no longer the right representative" of the company's values.

Gillette, a unit of the Procter & Gamble Co., also has said it won't air ads for its razors that include Woods or include him in public appearances.

Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer, a unit of luxury goods empire LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, also said that it would "downscale" its use of golfer Tiger Woods' image in its advertising campaigns for the foreseeable future.

Electronic Arts Inc., which puts out the "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" series of golf video games, has not said what its plans are for the franchise. The company did not immediately return requests for comment Thursday. Nike Inc. and PepsiCo Inc.'s Gatorade are other big sponsors that haven't severed their ties.

According to researchers at the University of California-Davis, the total losses for investors in companies like Gillette and AT&T are as much as $12 billion.

Two economics professors looked at stock market returns for 13 trading days after Tiger Woods' car crash near his Florida home in November, leading up to the day Woods announced his indefinite leave from golf.

The report shows investors in three sports related companies, EA Sports, Nike and Gatorade, fared the worst. Consulting firm Accenture reported no negative financial effects connected to Tiger Woods.

[tmittelstaed]

Most of the posters on this blog just don't get it. Tiger's finished in golf. Pro golf isn't like pro basketball - pro golf has a squeaky clean "snooty" image that it has cultivated, and that people like. Why do you think the movie Caddyshack was so funny? When Dangerfield pulled out the beer keg on the course people laughed because everyone knows that golfers are too high-class to ever pull a beer keg out on the golf course. But, think if a movie depicted a player pulling out a beer keg in a basketball game - not funny - why, because people can easily imagine that happening.

Sure, there's no rule that says Tiger can't play at another tournament. But, everyone watching will be rooting AGAINST Tiger, they will be hoping the other guy will win against him. Nor are the tournaments going to put up with Woods special requests and such nonsense, he will be treated the same as any other player. And sure, AT&T's competitors could possibly pick up Tiger now. But, they aren't going to pay anywhere near what Woods got from AT&T. Tiger can fill his slate with a whole raft of new sponsors. But what good is a bunch of second-rate sponsors like "Rusteez bumper ointment cream"

Unless Tiger can come back and pull some almost impossible feat like enter into and win every major golf tournament this year that would elevate him to the status of a god, he's just going to end up in the middle of the pack.

[dblbar1]

just curious.....has Tiger even stuck his head out of the door and been seen since all this started?

[kasuwell]

lol I think america is more upset about who tiger is screwing with than the fact that he is . think about it for a sec the dude is screwing nothing but what ? How long did the david letterman sh** last ? Seems funny huh ? no public outrage if there was I didn't here it funny lol

[chelokee]

It's so funny that all these big companies are dropping Tiger after he made them millions from his endorsements. Any company that drops Tiger woods will no longer get my business-period. All these companies spend millions of dollars on advertising to keep their customers loyal to their brand, yet they are NOT loyal to Tiger! What a joke. You will no longer get my money AT&T.

[WitchBroom]

Well whoop tee do! Your two cents is just that -- two cents worth. Tiger set the screws to himself; no one else did it for him.

[tmn]

AT&T is as loyal to Tiger as Tiger was loyal to his wife...

[kippertoo]

It is near the Christmas break of the school year. The students have
turned in all their work and there is really nothing more to do. All the
children are restless and the teacher decides to have an early
dismissal.
Teacher: "Whoever answers the questions I ask, first and correctly can
leave early today."
Little Johnny says to himself "Good, I want to get outta here. I'm smart
and will answer the question."
Teacher: "Who said 'Four Score and Seven Years Ago'?"
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Susie says, "Abraham Lincoln."
Teacher: "That's right Susie, you can go home."
Johnny is mad that Susie answered the question first.
Teacher: "Who said 'I Have a Dream'?"
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Mary says, "Martin Luther King."
Teacher: "That's right Mary, you can go."
Johnny is even madder than before.
Teacher: "Who said 'Ask not, what your country can do for you'?"
Before Johnny can open his mouth, Nancy says, "John F. Kennedy.."
Teacher: "That's right Nancy, you may also leave."
Johnny is boiling mad that he has not been able to answer to any of the
questions.
When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these ******* would
keep their mouths shut!"
The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?"
Johnny: "TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?"

[ianlou]

Remember Tiger, when you are back on top and these companies come knocking again. Tell them to pack sand.

[ctb4679]

I'll still look forward to watching Tiger on the golf course. He's a phenomenal golfer. He may not be the type for marriage, or maybe not until he's older. Elin deserves 50% and a non-cheating, new husband. But that's separate from his golfing. If he lets the consequences of his actions take their course then gets back to golf, and is either single or doesn't tell lies to another wife, I'll watch him play golf. But it seems like criticism of him has gone a bit too far. Many famous figures have cheated on their wives, and many not famous. It's sad but don't dump everything onto one man.

[magicwolf1]

by ctb4679 December 31, 2009 5:01 PM EST
I'll still look forward to watching Tiger on the golf course. He's a phenomenal golfer. He may not be the type for marriage, or maybe not until he's older. Elin deserves 50% and a non-cheating, new husband. But that's separate from his golfing. If he lets the consequences of his actions take their course then gets back to golf, and is either single or doesn't tell lies to another wife, I'll watch him play golf. But it seems like criticism of him has gone a bit too far. Many famous figures have cheated on their wives, and many not famous. It's sad but don't dump everything onto one man.
-----------------------------------------------

Well said! Happy New Year!

[ladd09]

Welcome to the real world people. People have been doing this stuff long before we were born and they will be doing this stuff long after we are gone. It's human nature. It applies to everyone, Republicans, Democrats, Independents etc.., it doesn't matter what you call yourself. So if we are smart and true to our heart, we will not buy any of the B.S. of any Political Party when they claim to be the "Party of Family values" and speak for others instead of their selves. We are solely responsible for our own behavior and the effects it has on loved ones and our own souls. We need to own it if we want to be able to live with ourselves. We must do what it takes so that when we lie our heads down at night, we can sleep well knowing that we acted responsibly and tried to do what we could to not hurt our fellow human being, companion or loved one. We need to recognize Politicians attempts to divide us for what it is, which is an attempt to divide us with our base emotional insecurities, and distract us from the real problems that we face and can solve. People will never change. We all have our failings. All we can do is to try and not hurt anyone during our brief stay here on earth. Individuals are responsible for their actions, not Political Parties. We can fix a lot of our real problems only if we stick together, but we can only influence human nature just temporarily. We all revert back to our weaker side from time to time and no one can fix that, only the individual can, just ask Gov. Sanford or Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, this is why our Government has Separation of Powers, So that the evil of one man can check the evil of another men. That's the genius of Democracy! This goes for women also. Sugar and spice and everything nice does not always apply. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO!
At the end of the day, do you want to be able to live with yourself and those who truly love you? It's a choice, an INDIVIDUAL choice.
Beware of those who claim to speak for others and closely examine their motives.

[lilbear925]

Now that AT&T is no longer spending millions to sponsor Tiger Woods, think of the discounted phone bills they could pass on to their customers -- yeah, like that's ever gonna happen...

[bubbadubba]

"many sports celebrities in the past escaped what woods is going through,"

I am just curious, can you name another top paid sports figure that cheated on his wife (and kids) and had affairs with at least 12 women (there may be more) he picked up at bars?