Menu
Labor and Agents

Mark Steinberg Leaves IMG, Expected To Take Tiger Woods With Him

Mark Steinberg, the longtime agent of Tiger Woods, has left IMG, where he headed the golf division, and Woods is expected to leave with him. "Mark Steinberg is no longer employed by IMG," IMG Senior VP/Corporate Communications Jim Gallagher said in a brief interview last night. He declined further comment. Steinberg's deal with IMG expired on June 30, but he was free to talk with other agencies starting on June 1, sources said. One source said, "They have mutually decided to part ways." Another source, however, disputed that, saying, "There was nothing mutual about it." It is not clear if Steinberg will join another agency or start his own firm. Because he was not yet free to talk to other agencies and sources said he abided by his contract, he may not know what interest there is from other agencies to hire him. Woods, as well as fellow longtime client Annika Sorenstam, are expected to go wherever Steinberg decides to go. IMG issued a press release stating that its global golf business would now be run by Senior VP/European Golf Operations Guy Kinnings and Senior VP/Asia Pacific Golf Operations Robbie Henchman. IMG Vice Chair Alastair Johnston will oversee the business of the division (Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal).

NEGOTIATIONS ON NEW DEAL BROKE DOWN: The AP's Doug Ferguson cites sources as saying that Steinberg was "negotiating a new deal with IMG on Tuesday when talks broke down." At a press conference earlier yesterday, Woods said, "I'm committed to both, with IMG, and Mark's my agent. It's been a great relationship." Ferguson noted if Woods "were to leave IMG and stay with Steinberg, it likely would not make much of a difference in his golf schedule or even his endorsements, as Steinberg did most of that work" (AP, 5/24). IMG sources indicated that Woods and Sorenstam "will leave IMG and go with Steinberg." But Sorenstam's husband, Mike McGee, said last night, "We just heard about this tonight and don't know what we will do" (GOLFWEEK.com, 5/24). Golf Channel's Gary Williams notes the relationship between Woods and IMG Chair & CEO Ted Forstmann is "apparently not very close," and if it is considered that Woods "has been with Mark Steinberg since 1999, and if you consider the last 18 months, my inclination is that ultimately he will go with Mark." Golf Channel's Erik Kuselias: "If Mark's been his guy, you go with your guy. You don't stay with the company" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 5/25).

NOT AS SURPRISING AS IT SEEMS: GOLF WORLD's Ron Sirak wrote, "Two recent developments make the departure of Steinberg less surprising than it would have been even two years ago." The first is the "scandal involving Woods' personal life." While Woods has said that "no one in his inner circle knew about his infidelities, that was hard to believe for several reasons." More recently, Forstmann was diagnosed with a brain tumor. When his Forstmann Little Inc. purchased IMG for $750M in '03, it was assumed that it was "doing so in order to turn the company over at a profit." Forstmann "streamlined the company, laying off people and jettisoning unprofitable divisions, but had yet to sell it before his illness forced him to step aside as head of IMG." Sources also indicated that Forstmann and Woods "were not close." Sirak wrote the "departure of Steinberg -- and the assumed departure of Woods -- clears up that matter from hanging over any impending sale." If Forstmann Little "wants to sell IMG, it now can do so with the knowledge that Woods will not be part of the deal" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 5/24).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/05/25/Labor-and-Agents/Steinberg.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2011/05/25/Labor-and-Agents/Steinberg.aspx

CLOSE