Golf Digest has signed Tiger Woods to a three-year deal
that names Woods a "playing editor" who will contribute
instruction articles "exclusively" to Golf Digest, according
to AD AGE. Woods' father, Earl, will also be a Golf Digest
contributor under the same contract. In return, Golf Digest
will sponsor junior clinics conducted by the Tiger Woods
Foundation (AD AGE, 6/9). Golf Digest is a publication of
the N.Y. Times Magazine Group. The magazine took out a
full-page ad in today's N.Y. TIMES touting the signing of
Woods. Golf Digest Editor Jerry Tarde is featured with
Woods accompanied by the tagline, "Signing Tiger Woods.
That's An Unfair Advantage" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/10).
TIGER HITS THE CAPITOL: In DC, Gerhart & Groer of the
WASHINGTON POST report that Nike "rolls out its new line of
Tiger togs and unveils its Tiger logo" tonight at DC's
Capitol City Brewing Co. It is not known whether Woods will
make an appearance at the event (WASHINGTON POST,
6/10)....Nike's new ad featuring Woods breaks this weekend.
The spot, created by Wieden & Kennedy, carries a Father's
Day theme with Tiger saluting his father. The ad will air on
ESPN and NBC's U.S. Open coverage (AD AGE, 6/9).
TIGER TALK: In BRANDWEEK, Terry Lefton writes on
licensed and unlicensed Woods-related products under the
header, "Chasing Tigers in Unlicensed Woods." IMG's Rick
Isaacson: "As soon as someone comes up with some product to
satisfy the demand, it will sell, even if it's counterfeit.
And most of it is" (BRANDWEEK, 6/9 issue)....In Baltimore,
Jon Morgan examines Tiger's recent endorsement deals. He
reports that Woods' Rolex deal provides a "base
compensation" and a percentage of sales of the new $2,000
"Tiger Tudor" watch, which will hit stores this week. The
deal requires Woods to wear the watch at public events, but
not while he's playing. Rolex spokesperson Nancy Byrne
called reports that the deal is valued at $7M "grossly
exaggerated" (Baltimore SUN, 6/10)....In Detroit, Jo-Ann
Barnas writes an extensive feature on Woods, titled "Tiger
Woods: A Megastar Still Rising." IMG's Bev Norwood, on
Woods' endorsement popularity: "We get so many requests
every day -- it's a circus. Before the Masters, I was
getting 20 or 30 a week. Since his Masters victory, I'm
getting 100 a week" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/10).
