Bubba Watson's Trading Card Might Have to Wait 'Cause of Tiger

Bubba Watson has really been using Twitter to his advantage lately.  He begged, borrowed, and shot himself in a hilarious video to get on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show.  Today, he is hosting a chat in conjunction with the PGA Tour on Twitter.  But, earlier this morning, the long lefty embarked on a new, bold campaign: to get on an Upper Deck golf trading card.

Upper Deck hasn't made golf trading cards in several years.  Speculation that they would get back in the business for 2010 was fueled by a September interview with Upper Deck's CEO Richard McWilliam at the trading card valuation mag Beckett.

McWilliam said that Upper Deck was looking to get back in the game with the help of Tiger Woods.

"[W]ith Tiger Woods on board as an exclusive autograph signer, another golf trading card product is something we are hoping to bring to fruition as early as 2010," McWilliam said.

Upper Deck has not made golf trading cards since 2005, but remains a sponsor of Woods.  He has an exclusive agreement with the company for not only a very limited series of trading cards, but also has signed many pieces of memorabilia to be sold be the company.  In part, that may well explain why Tiger does not sign many autographs at PGA Tour events: a corporate deal not only gives him an out, but also controls the distribution of his John Hancock to the public.

A series of eight autographed Tour Swatch cards were issued by the company.  They were lauded in Upper Deck's blog in August.

"If you have the money to purchase one of his SP Authentic golf cards, I would do so as soon as you possibly can. There is no way your investment will decrease in value, even if he were to retire tomorrow."

How prophetic.  In the same way that Upper Deck would make a killing if they did a Monica Lewinsky Blue Dress Swatch series, Woods obsessors might well want one of those few cards to analyze the swatch for DNA evidence.

That said, it remains unlikely that Upper Deck would issue a new series of golf cards in '10 - or ever - without Woods on board.  Provided that he has a lot more to worry about than the value of a trading card, or if scorned mistresses will ride with them in the spokes of the wheels of their bikes, Bubba Watson may have to wait.

But at least he can still collect cards featuring hair from horses of Triple Crown winners.  I doubt there will be a similar follicular series for Woods' ladies.