EA stuck by Tiger Woods when no one else did (okay, maybe Nike did too). The company was willing to look past the lascivious scandal and the dropped endorsements, all in the name of video game golf. But now, with Woods yet to win a tournament since his return to the sport, the gaming giant is beginning to question its own loyalty.
“We have no plans to move away from him, but it’s a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game, and he’s the best golfer,” CEO John Riccitiello told Reuters. Woods recently lost his rank of number one in the world, which he’s held since EA released its first Tiger Woods PGA Tour game over 10 years ago.
EA just wants things to go back to the way they were – mostly that part where he’s ranked number one. But Riccitiello emphasized that EA isn’t jumping ship yet, and is “willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.” Probably doesn’t help that EA’s Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 did nothing to reassure the relationship.
