Tag Heuer removes in-store Tiger Woods ads
Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer has removed all in-store advertisements featuring Tiger Woods from its Australian branches, and may do the same worldwide.
The company denies that the move is related to recent speculation surrounding the golfer’s private lives, which has dominated the front pages of the tabloids over recent days.
Tag Heuer general manager Philip Richards, says: “We change our campaigns probably four or five times per annum.” He claims that the “golf focus” promotions have temporarily run their course.
The champion golfer endorses Tag Heuer’s ‘Link’ line of watches and was involved in the design of ‘Professional Golf’, one of the firm’s upscale titanium watches.
Adverts featuring Tiger Woods were recently pulled from primetime television broadcasts in the US and Pepsi-owned soft drink Gatorade has announced that it would discontinue a drink endorsed by the sportsman.
The move comes amid global coverage of Woods’ private life, which has seen a slew of stories about the golfer’ alleged extra-marital affairs following his public admission of “transgressions” last week.
According to Nielson data, the last prime-time advertisement featuring the 14-times major winner was a 30-second Gillette spot on 29 November.
Woods is believed to have amassed close to £600m in career earnings since he burst onto the scene in the nineties, about 80% of which is believed to come from sponsors attracted to his image as a wholesome family man as well as sporting icon.
Sponsorship experts have said that his long-term appeal to sponsors will endure as long as the scandals do not affect his performances on the golf course.
