Blotter: Tiger Woods turns down Paddy Power sponsorship

Current number-one-ranked golfer Eldrick "Tiger" Woods declined a US$75 million sponsorship offer from Ireland-based online poker site Paddy Power. Woods has recently lost a number of sponsors, including business consulting firm Accenture and sports drink manufacturer Gatorade, since reports came out that he had conducted a number of extramarital affairs, including one with a former adult film star and another with a Las Vegas casino hostess.

The agreement would have paid Woods up to US$15 million per year for five years. Before the details of the affairs were released, he made more than US$100 million annually in product endorsement. If he had agreed to the deal, Woods would have been the first active American-born athlete to endorse an overseas online gaming site. Earlier this year, French-born Tony Parker of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs signed an endorsement deal with BetClic Poker.

A spokesman for the site said that Woods is still "somebody we would very much like" to endorse Paddy Power's online poker games. He also said that, despite Woods's initial refusal, Paddy Power officials were still eager to negotiate an endorsement arrangement with him through his management group, IMG. Some industry observers have speculated that the site may come back with a better offer, even as other notable sponsors are canceling their deals with the golfer.

Other experts in the online poker industry have noted that Paddy Power may reap the benefits of being associated with Woods without the need to sign him to a deal. The publicity generated by the offer to the fourteen-time major tournament winner has elevated the site's profile to match that of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, Party Poker and other major online poker sites.

Current reports have Woods practicing his golf game with noted swing coach Hank Haney near his home in South Florida. Golf media outlets have speculated that Woods may return to play in the Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia, later this month.

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