Caddie Steve Williams has been in the middle of several controversies since leaving Tiger Woods’ bag for Adam Scott earlier this year -- the latest being a racially-tinged comment he said toward Woods during a ceremony last weekend -- and the future of Williams’ sponsorship deal with Valvoline was discussed on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” today. Golf Channel’s Gary Williams said he is “going to lean” that Steve Williams will still have the deal next year, but he “should be a little wary because he is not going to get the screen grabs he got” with Woods. Golf Channel’s Erik Kuselias: “My instinct is no. One, because he is not going to get the screen grabs and two, because his image or ‘Q’ is not positive right now and it wasn’t really before this. I think people were a little put off by the victory lap that he took after Adam Scott won the tournament (August’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and I think if you are Valvoline right now I don’t think you are still getting the same bang for your buck right now” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 11/8).
ARMED AND READY: YAHOO SPORTS’ Dan Devine noted Activision today is releasing "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," and the game's makers “aimed to stoke consumer interest by airing a slick live-action commercial for the new title during Sunday's NFL slate.” The spot stars several celebrities, including Magic C Dwight Howard, and Devine wrote it will be “interesting to see if one other element of last year's ad -- the loud media backlash that [Lakers G Kobe] Bryant faced for firing a machine gun in a major national commercial -- carries over.” The question is whether or not Howard “will get raked over the coals the same way” that Bryant was after his commercial aired (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/7).
LUCKY CHARM: YAHOO SPORTS’ Graham Watson noted Notre Dame on Saturday is “debuting its new helmet for the ‘Shamrock Series Game’ against Maryland.” This is the “second time this season Notre Dame is slapping a shamrock on the side of its hats for a game,” as it did so for the Michigan game in September. This year is the “first time Notre Dame has sported the shamrock" since '62 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/7).
ROUNDUP: The PGA Tour yesterday announced a six-year contract extension with the Mayakoba Golf Classic and Spain-based construction company OHL, which is the presenting sponsor of the tournament, through the '18 season. The current six-year agreement runs through the '12 event (PGA Tour)….Attitude Drinks announced a one-year endorsement deal with Celtics F Paul Pierce and his Truth Fund charity. Per the deal, Pierce will endorse the beverage company's Phase III Recovery Drink (Attitude Drinks)….Mercury Insurance announced it is partnering with NHL Kings C Anze Kopitar, who will appear in a PSA urging drivers to not text while driving (Mercury Insurance).
