Tiger Woods – the world’s number one golfer — has been the face of Buick since 1999, but it remains unclear if his relationship with the General Motors brand will continue past 2009. Woods’ contact with Buick expires next year, with both sides exploring if it makes sense to ink a contract extension.
The negotiations between Woods and Buick have yet to begin, but Woods’ agent and Buick’s marketing manager for the golf division, Larry Peck, have reported set a timeframe for further discussions.
Despite GM’s uncertain future and near record-low stock prices, the U.S.’ largest automaker says it has no plans to cut back on any of its golf sponsorships. Woods’ current five year contract with GM is reportedly worth $40 million.
Although GM seems optimistic about retaining Woods as a spokesperson, Woods’ agent — Mark Steinberg – sounds a little more cautious about the subject. “I want to see where they are, and they want to see where we are,” Steinberg told The Detroit News.
With Buick having only one true competitive model – the Enclave – and GM’s current financial state, it’s pretty amazing that GM is even considering extending Woods’ Buick contract. The automaker is cutting spending left and right, and even recently cut some import employee programs such as tuition assistance and 401(k) matching.
10/24, 10:32 AM
posted by:
edgeguy
We already know where “they” are. The brand is hanging on by a thread. Just let it die already.
10/24, 10:43 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
It’s important to keep Buick alive. Old men who wear black knee socks with their madras Bermuda shorts and white buck shoes and straw boater hats need cars too.
10/24, 11:04 AM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Pissing off $40M when you are going downhill fast makes all the business sense in the world!
10/24, 11:17 AM
posted by:
Fletch
Tiger should do some pro bono work for Buick. Write it off as charity work.
10/24, 11:24 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Maybe they could hire Wilford Brimley instead of Tiger. Doesn’t he already advertise medical supplies for those close to death? Kind of a 2 for 1 deal, buy a Buick and hopefully after you take these meds you’ll live long enough to drive it. Everybody wins.
10/24, 12:00 PM
posted by:
Borat
Robert Wagner gets my vote. His penis knew Natalie Wood!
10/24, 12:51 PM
posted by:
Badass Z51
You’d have to be a complete moron to buy something just because a celeb endorses it.
10/24, 12:54 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Im waiting for the first dickweed to blame the UAW for this one.
10/24, 1:45 PM
posted by:
murphy1
its always been a strange mix…..pontiac would clearly be a better fit if it had to be a single division…
10/24, 2:23 PM
posted by:
Scarface03
Someone with an ad or marketing background can explain to me the economics of celebrity endorsement. Especially with Buick. Buick sells three vehicles–two conservatively styled sedans that are virtually indistinguishable and a CUV. Not a big consumer base upon which to tap into the, “Gosh, I want to buy a new car, and I wonder what my favorite golfer would buy” crowd.
Seems to me that the $40M could be better spent, even if still in advertising.
10/24, 3:28 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Lutz is better suited to advertise Buick. He’s old and the market share that Buick caters to. Besides, Lutz is already overpaid and he loves any photo opt available. Lutz can write the advertisement ad copy stating how Buick dominates the world car market and it’s his personal vehicle. I just saved GM $40M dollars, and if I can WFR Lutz I would GM even more!
10/24, 4:18 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
HAY TIGER…. YOUR BETTER OFF….
BUICK IS NOT THE ONLY AUTO MAKER IN TO GOLFING…
10/24, 4:29 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
You have got to be out of your mind to be a spokes person for Buick.
10/24, 5:53 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
It would seem to me that Lexus or Mercedes would be a better fit for the pricey “sport” of golf. Of course, if Tiger insists on promoting an American brand, why not Cadillac? Not that he’s all that pro-American.. have you seen that smokin’ hot Swede wife? Perhaps he should sign with Volvo!
10/24, 7:39 PM
posted by:
DrFill
If they moved him over to Caddy, I’d say yeah.
Otherwise, let him go.
And count on him getting double his old deal
DrFill
10/24, 11:19 PM
posted by:
441Zuke
yeah , agreed fill move tiger to caddie and kill buick pontiac and GMC. WTF wants a buick. I am sure tiger rather have a cts then a LUCERNE piece of ****
10/25, 1:29 AM
posted by:
Lau
With the news about Woods leaving this Buick contract………perhaps its a sign things are chaning? One contract seems to be a small thing, but perhaps there is more to come…..as in, brands leaving, being sold, and GM focusing on what it needs to instead of POS like Buicks and GMCs.
But, when I say POS’s I mean the brand name. Hell, the CUV from Buick looks good, but its the brand that keeps me from buying it. I think that’s what a lot of us do though…
What I think is that GM should only have a couple of brands instead of 12 or w/e, like:
Cadillac (prime luxury brand)\
Chevrolet (global brand, for cars ranging from small to full size)
Chevrolet trucks (wtf do you expect me to put here)
Pontiac (supposed youth brand leaning towards more sport oriented cars, like the new G8 and the turbo Solstice as a base model)
Everything else, IMO is excess weight. It’s unfortunate that GM didn’t have this idea in the first place. Toyota hell, has 3 brands and it’s doing fairly well compared to the Big # last time I checked.
Anyone agree?
10/27, 2:19 AM
posted by:
441Zuke
i think Saturn is a better choice then Pontiac. they have a better differentiation in models and in image buick is for old people Pontiac is a like a Chevy just with worse styling and GMC though i love the styling it is reddundent
11/09, 5:17 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
I wear argyle knee socks!