Despite the recent rash of corporate sponsors cutting ties with embattled golfer Tiger Woods, Nike has remained steadfast in its support for its endorser.
“I think he has been really great,” Phil Knight, Nike chairman, said. “When his career is over, you’ll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it right now.”However, despite Nike’s support, Accenture and Gillette still decided to pull the plug on Tiger’s endorsement deals with the companies. Tag Hauer, a Swiss watch company, although keeping their contract with the golfer, have pulled out his ads from stores in Australia. AT &T have also announced that they are reevaluating their relationship with Woods.
One of Wood’s mistresses, Cory Rist, also stepped forward and apologized to his wife, saying, “I can only imagine the pain she is feeling now and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for her pain. I hate that I’m a part of it,” during an appearance on the Today Show. Rist also gave her two cents on how she saw the golfer, who has upheld a squeaky clean image on and off the court.
“I don’t know how he had the time to have so many women in his life,” she said. “I don’t think he’s an honest man.”
In a span of several weeks at least a dozen women have come out claiming to have had intimate, long-term affairs with the golfer. Woods recently announced that he was taking time off from golf to focus on his marriage and family.