Tiger Woods loses another sponsor -- the Australian government
by Emily Kay on Dec 26, 2010 12:55 PM EST
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December 26 -- With the Australian PGA scheduling the 2011 Australian Masters the same week as the Chevron World Challenge, Chevron host Tiger Woods will likely not pocket the annual $3 million he made just for showing up Down Under.
At the least, Woods and his management team IMG appeared to have lost influence they may have held over the Aussie PGA powers-that-be. IMG runs the Australian Masters and Team Tiger has made it clear that it favored holding the event the week before the Presidents Cup.
Despite that, the Australian PGA announced Sunday it would stage the Australian Open a week before the United States and an international team of golfers tee it up in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne from November 17-November 20, according to The Australian. Additionally, the Australian PGA will take place November 24-November 27, with the Masters set for December 1-December 4.
A Masters participant the past two years and winner of the 2008 event, Woods had stated his preference for returning for a third tilt the week before the Presidents Cup. His reasoning was that the Masters’ Kingston Heath, a sandbelt course like Royal Melbourne, would offer him and other top players a useful tune-up for the Presidents Cup matches.
“We would like this date. It’s critical to us,” Mark Steinberg, head of IMG’s global golf division, said in November during the 2010 Masters, according to the Australian publication. “We feel like we took on the risk by moving to this date a few years ago, going up against some big events, and we made it successful. We feel we deserve to keep the date, now that it’s a coveted date for next year.”
Woods, whom Gillette officially dropped as an endorser last week, would lose that tidy multi-million dollar paycheck should he decide to stay home for the Chevron. He would likely pocket only half of it even if he were to compete next year, as Woods’ arrival in Melbourne in November sparked an election-year political brouhaha. Turned out not everyone in government, which shouldered half of Woods’ going rate, was thrilled about coughing up $1.5 million to the defending Masters champ.
Officials of the opposition MP party voiced their anger that the Victorian State Government shelled out half of Woods’ appearance fee. The ruling Labour Party, however, defended its financial decision, noting that Woods helped add more than $30 million to Aussie coffers when he played and won the 2009 Masters event. Minority politicos countered that Australian could put the funds to better use. "Victorian families are desperately short of hospital beds, police and trains," a spokesperson for the opposition leader said, according to the Irish Independent. "And taxpayers' money should be spent on these urgent needs rather than appearance fees for golfers."
A Greens office-seeker concurred, observing that “just about anything would be a better use of the funds,” according to The Australian.
As for the timing of the Masters event, the Australian PGA’s decision was in the best interest of both Australian golf and the PGA Tour of Australasia,” chief executive Max Garske said Sunday, according to the The Australian.
Still, given the election-year rhetoric, new premier Ted Baillieu may have cast a deciding vote on the Aussie PGA schedule. Baillieu said earlier this month that Woods would no longer receive the thanks-for-playing emolument from the government, according to The Australian.
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Well Emily, do ya think the solid year he
had in 2K10 had something to do with it ? Or, just maybe someone down under is getting brass ones and doesn’t give a watch for it Wendy,,,,here it comes,,,,,Wendys flying fig what IMG likes or doesn’t like…..It’s always interesting to me, that when someones britches get too big that something happens to cut them down to size….I think it’s wonderful….jist sayin mind ya…..STUB
Tiger is 1-2 major wins from being just fine with sponsers
He didn’t kill anyone or any pets….and though we he did was rather terrible….the more time goes on, the more he will be forgiven
He still owns the ratings
Hey Alious
please send me some of that stuff your smoking…I can’t get anythin near that good here in the gud ol USA a texas…..while youse at it, send me some a yur kool aid too…..my still broke down a while back and I is running low….Gawd I love it….“he still owns the ratings”…Bawwwwwa…stop, my sides hurt and yur killin me…..Bwwwwwww….STUB
ssshhhhhhhh – Stub…..they don’t grow that stuff in the States…it’s all further south in Mexico….right ? :-D
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
They grow kool aid in Mexico? You live and learn…….
by chip n'putt on Dec 26, 2010 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
you smoke kool-aid in SE Asia ?
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
wait – koolaid is illegal in SE Asia ? :-)
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Only when taken in conjunction with Mr Woods, or discussions about him.
by chip n'putt on Dec 26, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
IMG may drop it's sponsorship and or ownership of The Masters
and so what if they do? The Open and PGA are far more important and historically relevant events on the Aussie golf calendar than the Masters. Good on the Aus PGA for doing what is best for the Aus Tour and getting the Open back where it should be, as it’s flagship event.
The Masters will survive and it will do so with or without IMG. Put it back to February, where it always was and as a co sanctioned event with the Euro Tour. Everyone wins that way without the need to hang their hat on just one player and the capricious needs and wants of an organisation who have only their own ends in mind.
Unfortunately, I doubt they will and in 2012 after the Presidents Cup has become another memory, we will be back to the current schedule and just another down under event that the rest of the world has no interest in.
I think it's great news.
To get the worlds best players to compete down under is long overdue. Using the Presidents cup to get them down there is a good thing. Time WGC event was down there also. Switch the matchplay one for a strokeplay one for that time of year and the Australian Open can return to it’s rightful place in the world golf calendar. I think it should be a major, replacing the PGA . But historicly, that would be difficult to do. This would give a better balance of majors to world golf.
The problem is Easy – now that didn’t sound right….
The problem is, that the PC will be a one off and then it’s back to the doldrums for the Aussie. I think that the Aussie PGA need to get on board with the Euro Tour and get these events co-sanctioned. Another brick in the wall for a World Tour. By the way, Jack used to call the Aussie the fifth major, when he winning them with abandon. It would be lovely to see it get back it’s rightful place in the world golf scheme of things.
Couldn't agree more.
I see the European tour merging with the PGA one day anyway. So, yes, get it co sanctioned with the Euros. Nice pun too :)
It's good business
Amazing. Were you expecting the Australian government to pony up $3 million when they already know that he wants to play the tournament as a warm up to the Presidents’ Cup ? They don’t know if he’s going to get his game back together or get his ranking back…or his popularity. They understand that he needs to be in California for the Chevron – a charity tournament that could be moved to a different week – and probably should – to have a boost in field strength.
The Australian government isn’t a “sponsor” – they have been paying his appearance fee as negotiated by IMG. If you have an extra $3 million laying around, you can have Tiger play with you – and you won’t be a sponsor either.
Listening to politicians is rarely a good idea – especially in an election season. But nice pull on the word “emolument” ! :-)
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Only 1.5 million from the State Government Court
The Victorian State Government claimed to have put 35 million into the local economy directly attributable to his first sojourn down under. Not a bad return for your money. As for the political backlash about having him there this year, that would be normal hyperbole from that lot.
which makes you wonder why the political opposition would even bring it up when the incumbents could just put the facts out and show that it was a good investment.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Politicians and intelligence are not words that are normally synonymous.
by chip n'putt on Dec 26, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Eh, Emily K….Let’s hear if for the Aussies. Three cheers, Hip, Hip Hooray! Hip, Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray for not capitulating to TW, Mark Steinberg and the IMG minion team. Many have stated over the last few years there is more to golf than the PGA/USA. They have some very good golfers and great venues but not THE only golfers/ venues for golf enthusiasts.
KR – you don’t seem to understand how things work….I’d bet Emily doesn’t either. These big name players – ALL big name players – not just TW – have to set up appearance fees like that, otherwise they spend all day every day answering the phone and saying no to every $25 scramble looking for a celebrity. The bigger the name, the more calls they would have to fight off and the higher the fee has to be to get the phone to stop ringing.
It’s not just appearances they have to be careful with, either – and not just TW. A few years ago, I was doing daily interviews at the Tour Championship for an Australian news outlet. I tried to talk to Jeff Ogilvy and he, very politely, told me that he couldn’t do it because then he’d have to talk to all the Aussie sports people, and they were calling him at 3:00 in the morning for interviews, so he put an end to them altogether.
I didn’t see you chiming in a few weeks ago when Michelle Wie skipped the LPGA Tour Championship, claiming she had a bad back, but took the appearance money to play in Dubai.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Eh, courtgolf…You missed the drift. The Aussies have some cajones. .My point has nothing to do with appearance fees. Mark S is whining politely on behalf of himself and his meal ticket about not getting his way.
typical media games - making a story that isn't there
Just how do you figure the Aussies are showing their huevos ? Tiger hadn’t been to Australia in more than 10 years. It’s no skin off his nose if he doesn’t go all the way to Australia. It doesn’t make any sense to offer him an appearance fee when it’s not clear what he wants to do around that time of year ? He’d be using that tournament as a warmup for the Presidents Cup – but he also has his Chevron tournament the same week. If the Aussies give TW the appearance fee to come play, it could be construed by the home team that they are paying a lot of money to give the other team an edge. Personally, I like that. Shows some good gamesmanship.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Where the PGA/AGU have screwed up, is that the Aussie Open is in Sydney next year, so it won’t make an ideal warm up for the President’s Cup. They could have – should have had it in Melbourne and then they would have had a way better field.
by chip n'putt on Dec 27, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
It’s in Australia – that’s all it has to be. These guys go play the Scottish Open every year before the British Open. The Scottish Open is a parkland resort course – nothing near what they’ll be playing the next week in the British Open, but it gets them used to the time change. You’re definitely right that a tournament closer to the PC site would have drawn more of both teams, but being in Australia a week early is a lot easier than just flying in the week of the PC.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
The Presidents cup should be used this time
to show how good Australia is for golf and should be a future world tour stop. There should have been 3 weeks play down under..Aussie Open, then a WGC event ( strokeplay ) and finish it up with the Presidents cup. Keep the WGC event there for the next year and the Aussie Open again too. Big fields, top venues, far better than the Desert Swing in Arizona. Traveling is not an issue.
one golf course for three days of team play is going to show how good Australia is for golf ? We see at least three tournaments a year from Australia and all are on good to great courses and are well attended.
wasn’t there a WGC event there in the early days ? All of those things would be terrific, but it’s not going to change the fact that Australia is a very long way from both Europe and North America.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
No..
but pair it the week after the Australian Open and you get 2 weeks at least. The only think stopping it are top ranked Americans who won’t travel. 3 weeks down under in February with proper ranking points would ensure they would. The WGC event would have to be stroke play. It’s not that far really you know. Just 24 hours away and less for you. :)
aren’t there three weeks of tournaments with the PC mixed in ?
Top ranked PGA Tour players rarely play 3 weeks in a row – much less 4. Top ranked Euro Tour players are the same way.
Don’t forget, too, the time of year. Most of these guys have families to be home with for the Christmas season.
And if you’re going to complain about the American players – remember that there were twice as many Americans at the Were than there were Europeans. Sergio Garcia was the only European in the field, while Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim were there from the US.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
You talk of the past
I’m talking about a balanced world tour one day in the near future. The sooner the better. And in such a tour, Australia must be a part of it. And we are talking after Christmas. If they can go to Hawaii, they can go down under. Fincham, Norman, even Palmer thinks it will happen soon. Why don’t you ?
just promise you won’t hold your breath until this world tour appears. :-)
I don’t care where these guys play – I just like watching. What I don’t understand is that you don’t understand that they have tried playing in Australia before and it has never been an attractive location for these guys to travel to on any kind of regular basis. Golf is an adventure for you and me, but it’s a business for the pros.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
WGC Matchplay was played on my old home course, Metropolitan GC in Melbourne in 2001. Stricker won it.
And a lot of players didn't go
in case they got knocked out in the first round. That is why I think the matchplay should be swapped for one of the stroke play ones.
I couldn’t agree more Easy. The “W” in World Golf Championship, means world, does it not? Only five events in the history of the WGC’s have been played outside of the US until the HSBC was added to the roster last year. The trouble is that the Bridgestone is played at Firestone and always has and I would imagine, always will be and I can’t see Cadillac wanting any event they have their name on being played outside of the US. So that only leaves the Matchplay. Room for one more event, instead of the current four and rotate that one throughout the rest of the world?
I don't think we need more.
Drop Firestone as a WGC event. It always used to be. Put the matchplay in the US later in the year and put the stoke play event in Australia. Things are changing in golf and just because they have been in the US does not mean they are set in stone.
that’s why the WORLD rankings are used – not just the PGA Tour money list.
the tournaments are played in the US because that’s where the sponsor money has been as well as the TV viewership. If they hadn’t tried playing WGC’s in other countries, you would have a valid argument – but they have – so it’s not.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
Court. They have played a grand total of 5 of the 36 played outside of the US, the last in 2006. I have no idea of the TV ratings for those events- do you? I do know that they had huge galleries for all those events.
If you are going to promote an event as a “world” golf championship, then at least play one or two in other parts of the world to legitimise the moniker.
by chip n'putt on Dec 29, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
hmmmmm maybe
They should have a WGC event in Holland, that way every hole would have a Windmill. jes sayin
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
again – the WORLD rankings are where the field comes from – the field is a WORLD field – it’s the players that matter – the rest is about who’s paying the freight.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
What about growing and showcasing the game in other parts of the world? Assuming someone is willing to pay the freight and I’m pretty sure they are.
by chip n'putt on Dec 29, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
think about it – where is most of the money in sports ? In TV. Where is the largest block of TV sports viewers ? In the US. It’s not just about selling tickets and having several million for the purse.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
Europe has more people than the US
and India has cable TV in 60 million homes. Sport on TV in the far east is huge. 30 years ago, all the money was in the States. That just doesn’t apply anymore. The rest of the world is catching up and passing what used to happen in the US alone. World golf is enivitable and more important than that, it is required.
not population – golf viewers.
As the numbers change – the tournaments will change – bank on it. I may disagree with cowtowing to China and that bogus claim that golf is booming there, but it’s a WGC outside the US. Now we’ll see if it holds up.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
60 million homes has 300 million viewers in India..
It is all cricket now, but golf will take off. It’s too good not to. 10 years from now, it wouldn’t surprise me if most of the sponsors for world golf come from the east. There are 5 times more customers.
It is a world thing
up to a point. But having most of it in the US is not total golf that world events require. To play in the US, players have to learn to hit the ball high that the target golf requires. But that is not the only form of golf and to just have the British Open as the only other form is not enough. Players should be tested on a variety of courses and conditions all over the world. together. That way the rankings have the merit that some say is lacking at the moment. Sponsors will catch on soon enough.
then why don’t the Brits win more Opens ? Aside from Paddy, you have to go back to 1999 and Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie to find a UK winner, then Faldo in 1992 before that. If Americans are so limited, why are there so many American winners at The Open Championship ?
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
Beacuse as you have said many times...
Most play in the US half of their year. 3 majors and WGC events just about require the American game. Brits like Casey, Rose, Donald,Harrington ( Irish ) have had to learn to hit the ball high to compete in the American majors. They have all become "Americanized as far as their golf games are concerned. Golf needs more than one type of game.
Better look at the PGA Tour roster and the Euro Tour roster. There are a lot more UK players on the Euro Tour than in the US.
McIlroy is going to collect a Claret Jug this year
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
You might be surprised
that a lot of European events are also played on modern courses that need a high ball. Equipment has aided this trend. Amazing to think only 25 years ago, Faldo, who wanted to control the fight of his ball to win the Open learned to hit it lower. How the game has changed.
the great ones control their ball flight anyway. another thing that Woods has done better than anybody during his career that let him win all over the world….except in those extreme weather condition years at the British Open.
I like listening to Faldo teach and talk about moving the ball up and down – left and right.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
He has done quite a few DVD's on that stuff.
I like that side of the game. Faldo is as good as anyone on the teaching side of it. Watson once said Faldo moved the ball as good as anyone when he was at the top. Nowadays, it isn’t a requirement, sadly.
he really is – I make it a regular reminder to keep the arms and chest connected in the short game, and keep the chest moving through the swing. easier for me to think chest than shoulders a lot of times.
"Aye... we're good and lost now. For sure, you have to be lost to find a place that can't be found, elseways everyone would know where it was." - Captain Barbosa
Stomach and buttons
was a favourate of his. Turn the stomach back, finish with the buttons facing the target. It’s a core thought.
Good point, Court
about appearing to give the “other team” an edge if they paid appearance fee to TW this time round.
What Steinberg is complaing about has nothing to do with Woods. He’s sayinng that moving the tournament to the end of the triple crown makes it less interesting and less prestigious. IMG has a big hand in the Were. Seems like much ado about nothing to me. There were a total of 6 non-Aussies in the field – 2 Americans, 2 Japanese (or Korean – forget which), a Spaniard, and a Colombian – only 2 of which were IMG clients.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
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