Michael Magerman, the President of Odyssey/Tommy Armour
Golf, was profiled by CNBC's Greg Griffeth on Friday's
"Power Lunch." Owned by U.S. Industries, the two golf
companies have $100M in combined annual sales. Goldman
Sachs' Jack Kelly: "This year profits could double versus
where they were, so it's been a very nice turnaround in the
last several years, which coincides with the Odyssey
acquisition." Griffeth: "A purchase some say was made to
acquire Magerman, not just his company. ... This year, for
the first time in 25 years, putter leader Ping has been
ousted as the number one seller by the Odyssey putter even
though the company is less than seven years old. ...
Magerman now wants to do with Tommy Armour what he did with
Odyssey, using new technology and an aggressive marketing
plan" ("Power Lunch," CNBC, 6/13).
TIGER TALK: Tiger Woods was criticized over the
weekend for his handling of the press while at
Congressional. Woods met with limited members of the media
after shooting a 74 on Thursday. In Hartford, Bruce Berlet
wrote it was the "second time in less than three weeks" that
Woods "stiffed the media." Berlet: "This bullying is
becoming habitual" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/15). In N.Y., Mike
Lupica: "Somebody just has to explain to Tiger -- because
his fawning handlers either can't or won't -- that the media
just doesn't want to talk to him about eagles and birdies"
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/15). Also in N.Y., George Willis wrote
under the header, "C'Mon, Tiger, Get Real. Woods Could Use
Attitude Adjustment." Willis: "[I]t shouldn't be hard for
him to understand that the media and the general public ...
are interested in what he ... has to say" (N.Y. POST, 6/15).
In Orlando, Larry Guest: "Two of the world paragons of
sports arrogance, Nike and International Management Group,
are doing the coaching and they have in Tiger a most willing
student" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/15). Jack Nicklaus: "He'll
grow. Don't be too hard on him" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/15). In
N.Y., Phil Mushnick, on the coverage of Woods: "[T]he steady
grind of new, melodramatic Tiger commercials is wearing
thin. For crying out loud, Woods won the Masters, not World
War II. ... TV and its advertisers eventually will make us
sick of Tiger" (N.Y. POST, 6/16).
NOTES: A crowd of 30,000 attended Sunday's final round
at Congressional (WASHINGTON POST, 6/16)....Titleist took
out a full-page ad in USA TODAY congratulating spokesperson
Ernie Els on his victory (USA TODAY, 6/16)....President
Clinton watched the final round yesterday and was met by
USGA President Judy Bell and NBC Sports President Dick
Ebersol (WASHINGTON POST, 6/16). He was also interviewed by
NBC's Dick Enberg and Johnny Miller (NBC, 6/15). Clinton
invited all Open participants to a private tour of the White
House today (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/14).
