Fancy sponsoring Tiger Woods? Not even $75 million will do the deal

As rumours begin to spread of a potential US Masters return for the great Tiger Woods, it appears he isn’t the sponsor’s nightmare he’s been made out to be. Irish book maker Paddy Power has been reportedly knocked back in sponsoring the World Number 1. We have the inside track here at the 19th hole as to why the deal hasn’t been done…

Chris Williams (YGT Marketing Director) has apparently come in with an alternative offer including the prized Golden Tee arcade machine which takes pride of place in the YGT Towers. Although exact details of the deal are yet to be confirmed, we’re confident it included as many £36 golf breaks as Tiger could take, a £25 Your Golf Travel voucher and unlimited swing advice from the sales floor at YGT.

With a figure bounded about of $75 million for a five year deal, Paddy Power will have to go back to the bank if they are to secure this deal, either that or find a Golden Tee arcade machine to match YGT’s offer. With Woods having high profile sponsorships from the likes of Accenture, AT&T and Buick, surely Paddy Power is a slightly different type of brand when compared to the corporate names aforementioned. Chris Williams was quoted as saying “Tiger Woods is the perfect sponsorship opportunity for Your Golf Travel, he represents our core value of great value golf breaks, and a winning mentality. We look forward to continuing negotiations with IMG and hope our offer is successful”. Although the deal has yet to be completed, it would appear that Tiger’s return may be back on the horizon with commercial deals of this nature being touted about in the media.

Jack Nicklaus was quoted as saying he would be surprised if Tiger didn’t appear at Augusta National for the first Major championship of 2010. Quite simply if Jack said it, it must be true.