Golf Digest says so long to Tiger

It’s been a rough fortnight for Tiger Woods. First, Gillette officially sliced him from its advertising campaigns, word came that work had stopped on his High Carolina golf course, and EA Sports pitched him from the cover of his own golf video game. In the latest round of poor economic indicators, Golf Digest has written off the world’s No. 2 golfer.

The leading golf pub announced Thursday that Woods could take his writing talents elsewhere as it would end his 13-year gig as a bylined playing editor. Woods’ February column will be his last monthly offering, said a statement from Jerry Tarde, Golf Digest’s chair and editor-in-chief.

“We appreciate the insights Tiger has provided to our readers,” according to Tarde.

In his own statement, Woods responded, “I enjoyed my relationship with Golf Digest. But we have decided it’s now time for a break. I wish my friends at Golf Digest continued success.”

Thursday’s announcement was not the first time Golf Digest parted ways with Woods. During the player’s self-imposed hiatus from competitive golf, the magazine suspended his regular instructional articles but kept his name on the masthead. The deal back then was that Woods was out of the golf tip biz, for which he received a reported $3 million, as long as he was off the golf course.

“Tiger is listed as a Playing Editor on the Golf Digest masthead; his name will continue to be on the masthead during his time away from the game,” according to a December 2009 Golf Digest statement.

Prior to that action, Golf Digest published the controversial January 2010 issue that sported a composite photo of Woods leaning over President Obama’s shoulder as if he were giving him putting hints. The photo and cover story, “10 Tips Obama Can Take from Tiger,” became the subject of late-night punchlines, despite the fact that the magazine sent the cover to the printer two weeks before news of Woods’ sexcapades broke. The issue hit the newsstands as the scandal made worldwide headlines.

The recent parting appeared to be friendly, as Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told Golf Digest that his client “couldn’t commit to the digital demands that are part of journalism today.”