Legal hurdle cleared, Tiger still faces PR problem

12/1/09 By Jason Fink

Legal hurdle cleared, Tiger still faces PR problem

Tiger Woods' infamous car crash may only cost him $164 in fines, but as more women emerge claiming affairs with the married golfer, the damage to his image could wind up costing him millions.

Woods, 33, was cleared Tuesday of everything but a moving violation in the early morning accident Friday that various reports have said followed a fight with his wife, model Elin Nordegren, over reports of an affair. Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol said there was no indication that Woods’ injuries resulted from domestic violence and “insufficient evidence” to seek more medical records.

But Tiger’s troubles are far from over. US Weekly and Radar Online both reported yesterday that other women have come forward, including reality TV contestant Jaimee Grubbs, who told the magazine she has hundreds of racy text messages from the world-famous athlete.

It all adds up to a marketing nightmare for Woods, whom Forbes has estimated earns $100 million a year from endorsing products including Nike, Gatorade and American Express.

“This will affect his image immediately,” said Tammy Brook, a Manhattan-based celebrity publicist. “Is there money that's going to be lost? Yes. This has completely tarnished him.”

A spokeswoman for Nike, one of Woods' biggest patrons, released a statement saying: “Tiger and his family have Nike's full support.”

William Sutton, a sports marketing professor at the University of Central Florida, said if allegations of infidelity prove true, it could have a huge impact on Woods, whose value lies in part on his squeaky clean image.

“Sponsors who are more family oriented are going to pull back,” he said. “If he's cultivated an image that really isn't true then it damages his credibility as a spokesperson.”

Woods did not issue a statement Tuesday and his publicist, Glenn Greenspan, did not respond to a request for comment. His Florida lawyer, Mark NeJame, would say only:

“We're pleased with the outcome [of the traffic case] and beyond that won't comment further except to say it's over.”

Beyond the fine, Tiger could receive four points on his license.

Meanwhile, Grubbs, 24, who appeared on the VH1 show “Tool Academy,” told US Weekly that she and Woods had an on-and-off affair after meeting at Las Vegas nightclub Light in 2007. He was married in 2004.

Grubbs told the magazine they had 20 sexual encounters and she has more than 300 steamy texts from the golfer. She also said Woods warned her at one point that Nordegren suspected the affair and might try to call her.

This follows a report in the National Enquirer last week that Woods had a fling with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel, who has denied it.

Radar reported that “several other women” were talking to media outlets about their own relationships with Woods.
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Delicious
- Digg
- Stumble Upon

Legal hurdle cleared, Tiger still faces PR problem

Vote

Partners

Archive