Thursday, December 16, 1999
Buick gets a Tiger in the tank — for
up to $25 million
By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — In what had to be a first in pro golf,
Tiger Woods and a Buick executive stood on a dais in a hotel ballroom
and removed a silver cloth that had been covering a leather golf
bag, much like civic leaders unveiling a monument.
The corporate types in suits applauded. “I hope you can
fit all your clubs in there,” the executive said.
“Don't worry,” Woods shot back. “Stevie will
be carrying it.”
While caddie Steve Williams will be handling the black, white
and red bag with Buick's logo splashed all over it, Woods will
be getting richer, pocketing the reported $20 million to $25 million
he'll get in the sponsorship deal that was announced Wednesday.
Woods' commitments under the deal will begin at neighboring
Torrey Pines in February, where he'll defend his Buick Invitational
title.
Next to the hat, a player's bag is the most visible and attractive
to corporate sponsors. Woods has carried a Titleist bag since
turning pro, but bidding was under way when Titleist signed a
new deal with the 23-year-old star in which it gave up the rights
to use him in advertisements.
Woods even got the keys to a new supercharged car, and another
Buick executive promised that somewhere down the road, so to speak,
Woods will get to suggest some design touches to what will be
called the “Tiger Special Edition.”
“It's not a bad concept — every time I come to Torrey
Pines I get a new car,” cracked Woods, 23, who's coming off
the best season in more than 40 years.
“Obviously this is a great deal, and more importantly,
a great relationship that we're going to build on from here. I'm
very excited about this. I can't wait. I've always been a very
creative person.”
Whatever input Woods comes up with, “My neighbors probably
won't like it. It'll be pretty loud.”
By having Woods as a pitchman, Buick clearly hopes to draw
younger customers. Woods even alluded to it, mentioning how Buicks
have been “something more for parents” than young people.
“I'm hoping to broaden that scope ... and that is make
Buick more of a youthful brand. That is our goal and it's a market
we can capitalize on, that we haven't' touched yet.”
Just then, his parents walked in and took seats in the front
row.
“It's about time you got here,” Woods jokingly chided
them.
Woods wouldn't divulge specifics of the deal, other to say
he'll play “a couple of (Buick) tournaments” a year.
As for the money he'll make, “I'm going to keep that private.
I'm not going to ask you how much you make,” he said in response
to a question at a news conference.
Like Woods, Buick officials wouldn't discuss details, other
than it's a five-year deal.
“He really prefers we don't say anything, so I've got
to defer to his wishes,” Buick general manager Roger Adams
said.
Adams said the number of Buick tournaments Woods plays in will
vary from year to year.
“It's more in the spirit of best efforts,” Adams
said. “We're trying to build this relationships. We think
he will appear when we ask him to.”
Buick became the first corporate sponsor of the PGA Tour, in
1958.
Woods closed out the year with four straight victories and
won five in his last six events, including the PGA Championship.
He won eight PGA Tour events and 10 tournaments overall, setting
a single-season earnings record at $6,616,585. He became the first
player with eight PGA Tour wins in one year since Johnny Miller
in 1974.
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