• Golf

Electronic Arts end Woods relationship

ESPN staff
October 29, 2013
Tiger Woods promoting the game back in 2006 © Getty Images
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Video game giants EA Sports have ended their 15-year relationship with Tiger Woods.

The World No. 1 has been the star of the hugely popular "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" series - a franchise partnership which has brought in almost $771 million since it began in 1999.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, said: "We had an incredible run. Outside of [John] Madden, you would be hard pressed to find a sports figure that meant as much to a video game company as Tiger meant to EA.

"But times are changing and EA had to re-evaluate the partnership and frankly so did we."

EA vice-president and general manager, Daryl Holt, added: "We've always been big fans of Tiger and we wish him continued success in all his future endeavors."

Woods was dropped by a number of major sponsors when details of his sordid private life hit the headlines in 2009 - including Gillette, Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade and Tag Heuer.

EA stood by the American, insisting his extramarital affairs did not damage his status as an iconic sporting figure, but they chose to add extra players to the cover in recent years, including Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Arnold Palmer.

The decision means only two sponsors who were with Woods in 2009 remain - Nike and plane sharing company NetJets.

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