Friday, November 10, 2000
Woods says his beef is not
about cash
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — Tiger Woods
stood his ground Thursday in his criticism of the PGA Tour, saying
his complaint is about getting control of his own marketing rights,
not about more TV money.
He also refused to rule out leaving the
PGA Tour if the issues aren't settled.
“A lot of guys feel this way on tour,”
he said on the practice green at the American Express Championship.
“We're just wanting to get our rights
back, and not having these implied endorsements,” Woods said.
“There's a lot the public doesn't understand and doesn't
know about.”
Woods, whose impact on the game has been
a driving force in the record level of prize money on the PGA
Tour, said he would meet with commissioner Tim Finchem “when
we can all sit down,” but he did not set a time.
“It's not about getting a cut of the
TV revenue,” Woods said. “It's about doing what's right
by the players. The players and the PGA Tour have been bucking
heads on a lot of issues. The public has no idea, but we do it
all the time.”
Finchem arrived at Valderrama for meetings,
but was not expected to be at the golf course until Friday.
Woods, who is trying to become the first
player in 50 years to win 10 times in one season, added: “I'm
busy this week.”
When asked if he would ever leave the tour,
Woods shrugged his shoulders, smiled and hummed ominously.
Ultimately, it could all lead to a power
struggle between Woods and Finchem, and Woods' impact on the sport
gives him a strong hand.
“He's such a powerful figure in the
world of golf, you have to treat him with a bit of respect,”
said Chubby Chandler, the agent for European stars Lee Westwood
and Darren Clarke.
Along with being the No. 1 player in the
world, Woods has become the biggest star in sports. When his five-year,
$100 million contract with Nike kicks in next year, his annual
endorsements with 12 companies will be worth about $54 million.
One of his strongest complaints is how other
companies affiliated with the PGA Tour take advantage of his image.
Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG, cited
the season-opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, with a field
limited to PGA Tour winners. It runs a congratulatory advertisement
with tournament winners every week.
“Do they have to congratulate a guy
nine times?” Steinberg said.
Woods said such “implied endorsements”
have occurred after just about every tournament he has ever won.
He said he saw a commercial during the Canadian Open that featured
him, David Duval and Vijay Singh, even though the latter two did
not play that week.
“I don't know if the tour says, 'Go
ahead and run it,' or if they just run with it,” Woods said.
“We'd like to get an answer, and we deserve that.”
Woods did not say he deserves more of the
TV money he is largely responsible for generating.
Shortly after Woods won the Masters, the
tour signed a four-year TV deal worth about $500 million. Total
prize money this year was more than $160 million, nearly triple
the level when Woods turned pro. The next contract, coming off
Woods winning three straight majors, will be negotiated this spring.
Money has become the most sensitive issue
because Woods told Golf World magazine in its Nov. 10 issue, “In
a perfect world, I would be” entitled to a share.
Steinberg said it was “highly doubtful”
that would ever be the case.
“Would they be playing for that much
money if Tiger was not the most recognized athlete in the world?
That's not for us to say,” he said. “There are too many
issues involved to single that one out. Money doesn't solve it
all. It's what you can do on your own without people trying to
limit you from doing that.”
In negotiating the mammoth Nike deal, the
sticking point in discussions that lasted over a year was getting
back Woods' marketing rights, specifically with the Internet.
That appears to be the case again.
Tour regulations allow the use of player
images in tournament-related advertisements, and Woods has agreed
to those conditions as a tour member.
But conflicts abound.
While Mercedes runs weekly ads to show who
qualified for its winners-only tournament, Woods has a $30 million
deal with Buick. And last week, Woods won a fall bonus program
sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Woods has a contract with
American Express.
“Do you think it's fair that they can
use his name like that because they're affiliated with the tour?
Is that fair?” Steinberg said.
“It's about rights,” he said.
“It's not about money. It's more about equity and fairness.”
This is not the first time Woods has led
the charge on a divisive issue. He also refused to back down over
intense public scrutiny when he, Duval and Mark O'Meara questioned
the $63 million in revenues the PGA of America made off the Ryder
Cup.
Ultimately, the PGA gave each player $200,000
to divide among their colleges and favorite charities.
Nor is this the first time players have
argued with the PGA Tour about such issues as advertising rights,
releases to play in international events and media fees for their
special tournaments.
Nick Price said the implied endorsements
have been going on as long as he has played the tour.
“If he can take on the tour and beat
the tour, so be it,” Price said. “I never felt I was
strong enough to win. What Tiger has tried to do, a lot of guys
have tried to do. Let's see what happens.”
Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address)
of This Story to A Friend:
|
