Tiger Woods takes his act to Japan
By RON SIRAK / AP Golf Writer
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - Tiger Woods, who in his brief professional
career has already played in Thailand and Australia, takes his
game and fame to Japan in November as part of a promotion with
Nike, sources told The Associated Press.
Woods, working on a five-year, $40 million endorsement deal
with Nike, will do a clinic and public appearances for the apparel
company Nov. 7-9 in Tokyo, the sources said.
He will stay in Japan to play the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters
Nov. 12-15 and participate in the Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii
on Nov. 18-19 on his way back to the United States, according
to sources both in the United States and Japan.
"That scenario is correct," said a source familiar
with the logistics on the Asian end.
The Grand Slam of Golf is a PGA of America event involving
the winners of the four major championships. Woods already has
qualified for it by winning the Masters in April.
"Check the schedule for the dates of the Grand Slam and
it makes sense that Tiger would go to Japan in November,"
said an industry source who spoke only on condition of anonymity.
"You are not wrong in saying he will play there."
Woods' agency, International Management Group, would neither
confirm nor deny the report. Nike would also not comment on the
matter.
Nike, which opened a golf division in Japan in December, has
an international marketing strategy most visibly shown by its
involvement worldwide in soccer. The company recently signed the
Brazilian national team to a 10-year, $200 million endorsement
deal.
Nike signed Woods to the richest contract in the history of
golf last August. In addition to his success - five victories
in only 17 tournaments as a pro - the youthful exuberance of the
21-year-old Woods and the fact that his mother is from Thailand
makes Woods a perfect fit for the Nike marketing strategy.
Woods took the Nike swoosh to the Australian Open last November,
finishing fifth, won the Asian Honda Classic in Thailand in February,
and was 12th in the Australian Masters the following week.
The young star received appearance fees ranging from $200,000
to $400,000 for each of those events. It was not clear what he
would receive for playing in the Masters in Japan.
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