Tiger Woods Removed From Cover of Own Video Game

By Michael Lopez

You know your public image is in trouble when your own products stop bearing your likeness. Ever since the Tiger Woods cheating scandal broke, sponsors have been hesitant to associate their products with the golf pro. Now EA Sports, which produces the hugely successful Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game series, is replacing his cover picture with a yellow flag.

OK, it isn’t just any yellow flag. The new box art for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 will feature the iconic flag from the Augusta National Golf Club — a shocking departure from the 11 previous editions with Woods' face printed right on the box.

EA, of course, denies that the new imagery has anything to do with Woods' recent divorce woes. According to Sports Division President Peter Moore, “You shouldn’t read anything into the fact that Tiger’s not featured on the box art.”

But with Golf Digest ending its 13-year partnership with Woods just 2 weeks after Gillette declined to renew his endorsement deal, his marketability remains questionable.

"Of course, one could argue the decline in the interest of golf has to do with Tiger's extended absence and returned poor performance," videogame analyst David Cole of DFC Intelligence told the Hollywood Reporter. "But even if that was true, it says a lot about the PGA Tour and their over-reliance on one person to carry the whole league. PGA exposed itself to this risk and now is facing the consequences."

Woods himself didn’t seem too upset about the situation (at least not publicly).

“I am very happy and excited," he said. "There are many new and unique elements in the game that will make everyone feel like they’re really competing at Augusta National.”

The real question is, will PGA Tour 12 be any good? The game will feature several new courses, a host of popular golfers (sorry, Oscar de la Hoya didn't make the cut) and The Masters tournament for the first time ever. Sounds good to this writer, with or without that yellow flag on the cover. We'll find out for sure when Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 arrives in stores March 29.

Would Tiger Woods' endorsement influence your decision to buy or not to buy a product? Why or why not? Tell us below or @MTV3.

Tags Chisme, EA Sports, Gold, Sports, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, video games