GOLF:TIGER WOODS has signed an endorsement agreement to promote a muscle-relief heat rub made by Kowa Co of Japan. It is the golfer's first new deal since a sex scandal that started almost two years ago.
Woods will be an “image character” for the company’s antiphlogistic analgetic vantelin Kowa series of products, the Nagoya company said in a press release. A television commercial with Woods will debut in Japan in mid-July, the company said.
Closely held Kowa didn’t disclose terms of the agreement in its release. Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent, declined to provide terms in an email.
Golf’s former number one was injured in a one-car accident in November 2009 that led to his admission of marital infidelity and the downfall of his personal and professional career. He also hasn’t won a tournament since just before the crash.
Over the past 18 months, Woods (35) has lost endorsement agreements with companies including ATT, Accenture and PepsiCo’s Gatorade brand.
The 14-time major champion has maintained commercial contracts with Electronic Arts, Nike, Upper Deck, Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets, and TLC Vision Corp.
Woods hasn’t played in a tournament since May 12th, when he aggravated knee and ankle injuries sustained during the US Masters.
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