(ORLANDO, USA) - Tiger Woods is standing by his man, agent Mark Steinberg, rather than remaining with IMG, the agency which helped him become the world's first billion-dollar athlete in terms of endorsements.
Woods announced in a Twitter message on Monday that he will keep Steinberg as his agent even though Steinberg no longer works as a representative for IMG, the agency which was founded by Mark McCormack, who died in 2003.
Woods had been represented by IMG since turning professional in 1996 but his agent for the last 12 years has been Steinberg, who did not renew his contract with IMG when it expired two weeks ago.
"Staying with Mark Steinberg. Total confidence in him," Woods posted Monday morning on his Twitter microblogging webpage. "Excited about the next stage in my professional life. Fond memories of Mark McCormack."
Woods would be a major client for Steinberg as he considers whether or not to start his own agency or sign with another management firm.
Learning much about business dealings from his early days at IMG, Woods eventually would become a Florida neighbour of the people who managed his business affairs.
Woods became the first athlete to reach $1 billion in career endorsement income just two months before the revelations of a secret sex life with multiple mistresses that led to his divorce from wife Elin Nordegren last year.
Since news of the scandal became public 20 months ago, Woods has not won a tournament and has slid from atop the world golf rankings to 15th this week. Woods ranks only seventh among Americans on the list.
