In the Deutsche Bank SAP Open pro-am in Germany
yesterday, Tiger Woods used a Nike Golf ball "for the first
time in tournament-related play -- most likely marking the
beginning of the end" of his relationship with Titleist,
according to Gene Yasuda of GOLFWEEK. But Yasuda cited Nike
Golf officials as saying that Woods is "only testing their
ball and hasn't yet decided whether to make the switch
permanent." Woods has been "experimenting privately" with
the Nike ball "since early this year," and Nike execs
"hinted that a successful test under tournament conditions
could be the last step before Woods comes on board." Nike
Golf President Bob Wood: "Obviously, we're close, but it's
totally up to Tiger. If he likes the results he gets (in
tournament play), we'll move to the next step, which is to
work on a deal." Yasuda wrote that it's "not clear whether
Woods' use of the Nike ball violates" his Titleist deal.
Wally Uihlein, President & CEO of Acushnet, Titleist's
parent company, could not be reached for comment (GOLFWEEK,
5/17). GOLF WORLD cites sources as saying that a "new five-
year contract with Nike could bring Woods in excess" of
$80M, but "those numbers likely will soar even higher" if
Woods permanently uses a Nike ball. Three sources familiar
with Woods' Titleist deal "indicated" that he has an "escape
clause allowing him to terminate" the pact "with little
warning -- perhaps as little as a matter of days" (GOLF
WORLD, 5/17). The AP's Roy Kammerer reports that Woods used
a Nike golf ball today in the opening round of the event.
Woods said that testing the Nike ball "didn't violate" his
Titleist deal: "If I think it's viable to switch, I'll
switch. If not, I'll go back to my ball" (AP, 5/18).
SPONSOR GIVES NO WARNING BELL: In Newark, Yi-Wyn Yen
reports that Bell Atlantic dropped its title sponsorship of
a Senior PGA Tour stop in Princeton, NJ, "just two months
prior to the event." Instinet then came in and signed a
three-year title deal with the tournament (see THE DAILY,
5/17). Earlier this year, Bell Atlantic "reviewed its
corporate sponsorship and decided" the event "no longer fit
its marketing plans." Senior Tour exec Jeff Adams: "We've
had sponsors bow out six-to-eight months before an event.
Eight weeks is a little unusual" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/18).
