NEWSTiger Holds On To Endorsement Deals
Dec. 1 2009, Published 6:10 a.m. ET
As suspicious details continue to emerge in the Tiger Woods’ car crash, and police await information on the sequence of events, the companies paying Tiger big bucks show unwavering support for the pro golfer. “Tiger and his family have Nike’s full support,” a spokesperson for Nike, which endorses Tiger, said in a statement on Monday. “We respect Tiger’s request for privacy and our thoughts are with Tiger and his family at this time.”Sports drink Gatorade, another firm that endorses Woods, spoke out in his support.
“We wish Tiger well as he recovers and look forward to seeing him back on the course soon,” a statement from Gatorade said. “Our partnership with Tiger continues.”
The money Tiger makes on the course is nowhere near the amount he receives in endorsement dollars.
Although Tiger earned a reported $23 million in PGA Tour winnings in 2008, his endorsement deals fetched $105 million last year, according to Sports Illustrated.
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This September, Forbes announced Tiger had become the first athlete to earn $1 billion over the course of his career.
In 2000, after four years on the PGA Tour and several championships under his belt, Tiger signed a 5-year, $105 million contract extension with Nike. The contract was reportedly the largest endorsing deal ever signed by an athlete at that time.
