REUTERS/Ashraf MohammedNike might be A-OK with the fallen-from-grace golfer, but several other Tiger Woods sponsors are making the choice to distance themselves from the media frenzy that inevitably follows.
After Woods' Friday announcement that he'd be taking an "indefinite" departure from the sport that made him one of the greatest athletes of our time, both Gillette and AT&T have decided to reevaluate their relationships with the embattled star.
Not unlike Tag Heuer before it, the Gillette-owning Proctor & Gamble maintains that their decision to phase Woods out of their advertising has little to do with the details surrounding his personal life, stating simply: "As Tiger takes a break from the public eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in our marketing programs."
However, AT&T was less forthcoming with their plans to back Woods in the future.
A rep for the phone giant tells E! News: "We support Tiger's decision and our thoughts will be with him and his family. We are presently evaluating our ongoing relationship with him."
Earlier this week, Woods' longtime supporter Gatorade announced the discontinuation of their Tiger Focus drink, but claimed that it has nothing to do with the controversy surrounding him.
"We decided several months ago to discontinue Gatorade Tiger Focus along with some other products to make room for our planned series of innovative products in 2010," a rep for the drink told E! News on Tuesday.
—Additional reporting by Aly Weisman
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