Turkish Airlines Open nearing deal to secure Woods’s presence

Promoter says representatives still ironing out details

Tiger Woods hits out of a bunker during the second round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Friday. Warren Little / Getty Images
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DUBAI // What seemed so certain last autumn became iffy over the winter, yet now it has become a stronger possibility.

Organisers of the European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open were neck-deep in contract talks to bring back Tiger Woods on a multi-year deal after his successful appearance in the event’s first full-field staging last November, and they characterised the contract as almost complete.

But it has not happened, and for the past few weeks, it looked as though the world No 1 would not be making another appearance, event promoter Chubby Chandler said.

However, Chandler, also one of golf’s top sports agents, had a talk with Woods’s management at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this week and the door is again open.

“After the conversation yesterday, I am rethinking it,” Chandler said.

Chandler said that among the options is whether a multi-year deal is best for the tournament, or whether it is better to hire Woods for occasional appearances over the years.

At a reported US$3 million (Dh11m) per appearance, it is a steep price tag. In Turkey, Woods’s presence in the field does not necessarily result in a boost to the crowd size.

Woods contended all week and finished joint third last year at the Turkish Open, the lead-in event to the Race to Dubai finale, the DP World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Given the tournament’s spot on the calendar, in the middle of the Final Series, Chandler’s tournament is virtually assured of attracting the best European Tour members, which theoretically lessens the need for marketing mojo.

Woods’s presence virtually guarantees added eyeballs and field firepower. With Woods in the field, the event was awarded the fourth-most ranking points to the winner among regular European events staged last year.

Woods’s management is seeking to secure some sort of branding deal with the airline for his golf bag, Chandler said.

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