Tiger's big-money sponsors beginning to desert him ...

FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
By Lawrence Donegan
Tiger Woods has been dropped by one of his biggest sponsors, the consulting firm Accenture. The company pulled images of the golfer, who has been beset by recent revelations about his private life, from its website yesterday and confirmed the decision today.
"Given the circumstances of the last two weeks, after careful consideration and analysis, the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising," Accenture said in a statement ending the six-year commercial relationship.
The decision follows another of Woods's sponsors Gillette, which reportedly pays him £4million a year, saying it would phase Woods out of its advertising and from public appearances.
AT&T, which has its name on the golfer's bag, also announced over the weekend it was "re-evaluating" its relationship with him.
Meanwhile Steve Williams, Woods's long-time caddie, sought to distance himself today from the player's personal behaviour amid reports of recriminations among the world No 1's inner circle over the handling of the scandal that has all but destroyed his reputation, forcing him to take temporary leave of the sport.
"I had no knowledge of what Tiger's indiscretion was," Williams told the Sunday News in New Zealand. "What people fail to realise is I [just] work for Tiger Woods. I live in New Zealand, I travel to and from New Zealand to caddie for Tiger Woods.
"Whilst I am a very good friend of his, I don't know what he does off the course. When he is not competing, I am back in New Zealand. I have no knowledge of what he is doing. Yes, I talk to him on the phone, ask him how his practice is going, how he is hitting the ball, how his family is, [but] I don't know what he is doing, just like he doesn't know what I am doing."
Williams, who also has a home in Oregon, had spoken often through the years about his close friendship with Woods, who was the best man at his wedding, telling one interviewer: "We've become very good mates, we socialise together. It's one of those things that's developed, not something I planned on happening."
The caddie's remarks came as it was reported in the United States that Woods' advisers had disagreed over how to handle the scandal that broke more than two weeks ago after the 33-year-old crashed a car outside his Florida home in the early hours of the morning, presaging a wave of allegations about his personal behaviour, with a string of women alleging to have had "affairs" with him.
There was widespread disbelief in American media circles that the golfer and his advisers, most notably his long-time agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG, reacted to the ensuing frenzy of publicity only via the player's website, and even then in the most limited sense.
Until Friday's announcement that the world No 1 would be taking an "indefinite" break following what he described as "infidelities", the golfer's previous statements on the scandal had been limited to an admission of "transgressions" and a fierce criticism of what he called media intrusions.
Woods' decision to remain out of public view since the car crash also attracted ridicule, so much so that even a senior IMG executive joked publicly about him. Barry Frank, an executive vice-president with the sports agency, was asked what sports business story they would be following closely in the next year: "How many girls Tiger was with," he replied.
There is little room now for humour among Team Woods after several of his corporate sponsors have indicated they would be seeking to downgrade or end multi-million pound deals.
Gillette, which reportedly pays him £4m a year, said it would be "limiting" his involvement in marketing campaigns, while AT&T, which has its name on the golfer's bag, announced over the weekend it was "re-evaluating" its relationship with him.
Within the world of professional golf, however, there has been sympathy for Woods and his family, as well as understanding over his decision to take a break from the sport. The former women's No1 Annika Sorenstam, who shares the same agent and used to exchange text messages whenever either won a major, described the events as tragic.
"I am in touch with his wife Elin now and then. Me and my husband Mike have been out dining with Elin and Tiger on a few occasions. Perhaps it won't happen as often now," she said.

Tiger could lose £66million in sponsorship in a year

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Over the course of a year Tiger Woods could lose an estimated £66 million in income from advertising endorsements if he is dropped by sponsors.
He made £12 million in prize money in 2007, his last full season, and would have been expecting to make even more in 2010.
Woods would also lose out on an estimated £10 million in appearance fees around the world over the next year.
The losses of a year-long absence to the golf industry as a whole have been estimated at more than £300 million. Ticket sales for tournaments Woods pulls out of would be expected to fall by 25 per cent.
Sponsors are already distancing themselves with Gillette saying it is "limiting" his marketing role and AT&T saying it is "evaluating" its ongoing relationship with him. Gatorade, owned by Pepsi, has axed a $100m deal with a Woods-sponsored drink. Accenture, the business consulting group that built a marketing campaign around Woods, has removed him from off its website.
Nike, his main, $30m-a-year sponsor which is fully supporting him, can expect a hit to its clothing line sales. Woods signed a five-year deal in 2006 which is estimated at £70 million.
Woods is in the fourth of a six-year deal with videogame company EA Sports. His branded video game has so far made £60 million.
He also has deals worth almost £20 million for golf courses he is helping to design.