News

Thursday, 11 March 2010 05:02

A high profile endorsement of online gambling would put any big name operator firmly in the limelight and this is what PaddyPower are seeking from Tiger Woods.

Ireland's popular bookmaker and online gambling operator PaddyPower are seeking out Tiger Woods with an offer of a massive five year, $75million sponsorship deal to endorse their product. However, despite his recent high profile personal problems that have seen some of his most lucrative endorsement deals crumble to dust and big name sponsors pull the rug from under him, Woods has declined PaddyPower's offer.

Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods' IMG agent, indicated that the proposal made by PaddyPower is not being considered with any seriousness. He added that Woods was not interested in conducting any discussions with regards to adding to his current sponsorship portfolio. Had the deal come off, it would have been the biggest sponsorship contract the Irish bookmaker had done by a long way.

Undeterred, PaddyPower have indicated they are not defeated and are attempting to reopen communications with Woods' agent to come back with a more lucrative deal. The problem and main stumbling block that is getting in the way of this proposal is the USGA. They are opposed to any of their members promoting any types of gambling that they don't like, such as online gambling, sports books and casinos.

Meanwhile, Woods is trying to rebuild his professional and personal life after it was very publicly revealed that he had many mistresses during his career. His wife has not turned her back completely on him and he is making an attempt to regain her trust, part of which has seen Woods spending time in a rehabilitation clinic for sexual addiction recently.

Woods recently held an uncannily quiet press conference where no questions were allowed to be asked by reporters. The golfer instead only invited those he felt comfortable with. He read from a carefully prepared statement which included his wishes for his family's forgiveness and that reporters would not harass his children.

Earlier in the week, Steve Williams who caddies for Woods appeared on television claiming he had no knowledge of Woods' affairs. The media believes that Williams said only what Woods would have wanted him to say.