Le fil du Golf - The Golf Thread

[ErickMontreal]

Gillette to phase Tiger Woods out of ads

 

New York — Associated Press Published on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 11:57AM EST Last updated on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 4:05PM EST

 

New York — Associated Press Published on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 11:57AM EST Last updated on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 4:05PM EST

 

One of Tiger Woods’ major sponsors will phase the world’s most valuable athlete out of its advertisements while he takes time off to repair his personal life.

 

Gillette’s announcement Saturday marks the first major sponsor of the superstar athlete and corporate pitchman to distance itself from Woods.

 

“As Tiger takes a break from the public eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in our marketing programs,” said Gillette, a division of Procter & Gamble.

 

Other sponsors are mulling their options and trying to gauge the fallout from the man who has become the face of golf, as he drops off the circuit for an unspecified period.

 

AT&T said it is evaluating its relationship with the golfer. Representatives from Accenture won’t say what its plans are regarding Woods, whom the consulting firm has used to personify its claimed attributes of integrity and high performance.

 

“I think you will see the handful or so of companies that he has relationships with doing some real soul searching and making some probably, for them, difficult decisions in the next few days,” said Larry L. Smith, president of the Institute for Crisis Management, in Louisville, Ky.

 

Late Friday, Woods announced an indefinite leave from golf and public life to try to rescue his marriage after a two weeks of intense coverage of his infidelity sullied his carefully cultivated good guy image. The decision and contrite tone of his statement was seen by marketing experts as a smart step to repairing his public image. His previous brief and vague statements on the matter were criticized as insufficient to quell the intense scrutiny and to lessen the damage from more than a handful of women who claim to have had affairs with him.

 

“It’s just like your most beautiful fashion brand is being trashed,” said John Sweeney, director of sports communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I don’t expect Tiger to be the gold standard anymore, but he’s not going out of business ... He’s too big and too talented to be fired, but he will have significant declines from what he was.”

 

Woods, 33, spent 13 years burnishing a pristine personal brand.

 

His good looks and multiracial heritage gave him broad appeal. His domination of the game and fist-pumping flair for the dramatic established his tournament appearances as must-see TV. His work ethic is admirable. Marketers were drawn to his image as a clean-cut family man who mourned the death of the father who taught him the game, doted on his mother and married a former Swedish model with whom he has two young children.

 

Woods is the pitchman for brands ranging from AT&T to Accenture to Nike. His array of endorsements helped him become the first sports star to earn $1 billion. Michael Jordan, Woods’ closest contemporary, is a distant second. Jordan has accumulated about $800 million during an NBA career that spanned nearly 20 years, according to Forbes.

 

Nike, which built its $650-million golf business around Woods, said late Friday it supports his decision. Gatorade, a unit of PepsiCo Inc., said previously it supports Woods and said Saturday it has no updated comment.

 

Gillette’s decision includes phasing out Woods from its television and print advertising, and from public appearances and other efforts linking the two entities together, Gillette spokesman Damon Jones said.

 

“This is supporting his desire to step out of the public eye and we’re going to support him by helping him to take a lower profile,” he said.

 

Gillette, which operates from Boston while parent P&G is based in Cincinnati, has had a contract with Woods since 2007. Jones declined to provide further details, including length and value, of the contract.

 

Woods hasn’t been seen in a prime-time television commercial since a Gillette spot on Nov. 29, according to research firm Nielsen Co.

 

Jones said that was because golf is currently off-season, so the company is promoting new products like Gillette Fusion MVP with football and baseball stars instead, because those seasons are more current.

 

As any ads featuring Woods expire, they will not be renewed. Jones said that did not mean the company was severing its ties with Woods. There had been no upcoming scheduled public appearances for Woods, he said.

 

He declined to comment on when the company would resume including Woods in its marketing, and would not say whether that would be linked with the timing of Woods comeback, when and if he decides to resume playing golf.

[Habsfan]

Yeah baby! This is great news! You can bet I'll be there! The xposure Montreal will get in the US from the Golf Channel will be great!

 

Champions Tour announces summer event in Montreal

 

Feb. 4, 2010

By Champions Tour staff

MONTREAL -- Synchro Sports and the PGA TOUR jointly announced a multi-year agreement Thursday that will bring the PGA TOUR's Champions Tour to Montreal, Canada.

 

The inaugural 54-hole Montreal Championship featuring a 78-player star-studded field will be conducted July 2-4, 2010, at Fontainebleau Golf Club. Montreal-based Synchro Sports will serve as Host Organization and tournament promoter to manage the championship.

 

 

The Champions Tour collectively has the most recognizable and accomplished players in the game, with 16 World Golf Hall of Fame Members actively competing in its events as well as golf legends that have combined to win close to 100 PGA TOUR major championships. Among major champions now competing on the Champions Tour are Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Mark O'Meara.

 

Champions Tour President Mike Stevens was accompanied at the media conference by the 2009 Champions Tour Player of the Year Bernhard Langer and two-time Champions Tour major winner Peter Jacobsen.

 

"We realize the strategic importance of growing the Champions Tour brand globally and establishing a strong presence in Canada," Stevens said. "Following the overwhelming success of the 2007 Presidents Cup, our players are excited to be back playing in Canada and looking forward to visiting and showcasing the Champions Tour in the world-class city of Montreal."

 

The Montreal Championship will boast a $ 1.8 million (U.S.) purse with the winner earning $270,000 and will be broadcast to an international television audience, with both the Golf Channel and Le Réseau des sports (RDS) airing 54-hole coverage.

 

"Our objective is to further position the city of Montreal as an enticing tourist and golf destination and to maximize the economic benefits to the city and the province of Quebec. We have the fortitude to rely on solid corporate partners that clearly believe in the viability of this championship and whom have partnered with us in the past," said Patrick Bibeau, President of Synchro Sports. "However, the arrival of the Champions Tour to Montreal would simply not have been possible without the support of both the provincial and federal governments."

 

"The Government of Canada is proud to grant $2,350,000 in funding for the marketing and promotion of Montreal Championship over a three year period. This contribution is a concrete example of our government's commitment to sustaining the vitality of Canada's communities. Having the Champions Tour take place on Quebec soil will further the international reach and reputation of Montréal, the province and the country as a whole. With the broad media coverage it is sure to attract, this event promises to draw the focus of the entire world," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development. "This prestigious tournament, which comes on top of the other major sporting events to be hosted by Montréal, will help multiply the economic spinoffs generated by all of these events and further strengthen the city's reputation on the international stage."

 

"The Government of Québec is thrilled with the announcement of this momentous championship that will provide broad exposure as well as significant economic and social benefits for the city of Montreal," said Ministers Lessard, Ménard and Courchesne. "Golf will become an Olympic sport beginning in 2016 and is undoubtedly an important component of the tourism industry in Quebec. Additionally, golf remains a high-level sport with Quebec youngsters taking up the game in record levels."

 

The Montreal Championship also marks the return to the professional sporting scene of former Montreal Canadiens President Ronald Corey, who has been named Tournament Chairman.

 

"This is undoubtedly one of the most significant professional golf announcements in Montreal's history and we look forward to the challenge," Corey said. "We encourage the Montreal business community to get behind this event in the way of sponsorship and assist our many worthwhile charitable partners."

 

"Fontainebleau's closing three holes circle around a large lake and will be the ideal stadium-like setting for a truly dramatic finish to the Montreal Championship," said David Skitt, Synchro Sports Vice-President and Tournament Director. "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring world-class championship golf on an annual basis to the loyal golf fans in Quebec."

 

Opened in 2003, the 7,105-yard, par-72 Club de Golf Fontainebleau, a property of ClubLink Corporation, wasted no time taking center stage in the world of golf, playing host to the 2004 Skins game where Phil Mickelson topped John Daly, Vijay Singh and Hank Kuehne.

Modifié 9 mars 2010 par Habsfan

[Habsfan]

Salut les filles!

 

Je suppose qu,il doit y avoir d'autres mordus du golf comme moi du MTLURB, donc j'ai décidé de partir ce fil. On peut discuter du dernier tournoi de la PGA, des ventes qu,il pourrait y avoir dans le GolfTown, et on pourrait même jouer quelques parties ensemble. Donc si il y en a qui sont intéressés au golf, vous savez ou aller sur MTLURB!

 

Hello Ladies,

 

I assumes there must some golf freaks like me on MTLURB, That's why I decided to start this thread. We can talk about the last PGA tournament, any sales that might be interesting at Golftown or we can even get together for a round of golf. If you're interested in Golf, now you know where to go on MTLURB.

 

Habsfan

[Cataclaw]

J'suis un noob au golf, mais j'aime jouer quand même, si ce n'est qu'une fois par année.

 

MTLURB Golf Meet? or maybe just MTLURB driving range meet?

[Habsfan]

You're never too old to learn to play golf. I started I was 18 and i'm a full fledged addict today. I need my golf fix at least once a week.

 

Je serais prêt à aller au Driving range, ça pourrait être le fun! Let me know when you're available!

[Cataclaw]

Isn't there a driving range in Brossard or La Prairie?

[Habsfan]

Yeah, there's one on Taschereau(right on the border of Brossard and Laprairie) but it sucks. I usually go to a driving range in Laprairie. It'sright off route 112(Chemin St-Jean) on the other side if the 30. It's an amazing facility. Not only is there a driving range, but they also have a small Par 3 nine hole course and an entire section where you can practise your short game (Putting greens, Sand bunkers, chip shots and 50 yard approach shots). It really is a great facility.

 

But we can go to the one on Taschereau if you like, it's like 3 minutes away from my condo!

[Cataclaw]

The La Prairie one sounds better, and it's not much farther anyway.

 

Maybe next weekend or something?

[Habsfan]

Yeah, Next week-end sounds good. Let's hope that it won't rain.