Tiger's Fees Down, And They're Still The Story

Following Tuesday's mildly awkward Tiger presser, the lack of interesting answers made Tiger's appearance fee the story by default. Lawrence Donegan in The Guardian:

His price is down but his hopes are up. Tiger Woods, attracted by a $1.5m (£960,000) appearance fee (significantly reduced from what he demanded in his prime), will begin his 2012 season in the unfamiliar surroundings of Abu Dhabi, in the unfamiliar role of underdog.

Graham Otway in the Daily Mail is the first I've seen to speculate on Tiger's Rolex deal as part of his focus on the Abu Dhabi appearance, and he throws out a pretty low number.

The 36-year-old’s off-course earnings in his prime were estimated at £60m a year, and while he has picked up a couple of new sponsors in recent months, luxury Swiss watchmakers are paying him less than £100,000 a year to be one of their ambassadors.

Bob "Hey Buddy" (or was it "Hey Bobby"?) Harig takes a broader look at appearance fees as they relate to this week's event at Torrey Pines and the possibility of them on the PGA Tour.

"That's not a rabbit hole we or the PGA Tour would want to go down," said Farmers Insurance Open tournament director Peter Ripa, who awoke to the news in November that Woods would not be playing his tournament this week. "Our host organizations are 501c-3s [non-profit organizations], generating over $118 million for charities. And the overall purse at the Farmers Insurance Open is [more than twice] the European Tour event.''

Most European Tour events have purses half the size of those on the PGA Tour. But those that direct funds to selected players seem to get the biggest buzz and a good deal of publicity for the title sponsor.

The Abu Dhabi event has been discussed for weeks as a great start to the season, mostly because it has been known for months that Woods, McIlroy and Donald -- who will be grouped together during the first two rounds -- would be here.

"The commercial arrangements we have with some of the players is long seated,'' said Giles Morgan, group head of sponsorship for HSBC, which is in the second year of a five-year contract to sponsor this tournament. It also sponsors the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, as well as several other tournaments.

"Golf is a product and golf is a product particularly in new markets. And you have to ensure that the players are able to showcase what the sport is to the broader public. We are trying to take this sport to a new audience, which means that commercial arrangements are much more likely.''

Commercial arrangements. Nothing like a good euphemism to start your Wednesday!