Ad Age says Tiger Woods is least effective endorser?

Written by: Tony Korologos | Saturday, January 15th, 2011
Categories: Golf MediaMiscellaneousTiger Woods

Attention all sponsors of Tiger Woods.  You may want to reconsider that $72 million (give or take a few) you are paying Tiger and consider paying it to me.

Tiger Woods Ad

Advertising revenue from Tiger Woods’ front tooth dropped 45% in 2010

According to Ad Age, celebrity endorsers are ineffective and can at time have as much as a 30% negative effect.

“From Tiger Woods to Donald Trump, we found that with rare exception, celebrity endorsements were largely ineffective and failed to yield the benefits popular wisdom promises.”

“Today’s consumer is a totally different animal than the consumer of even five years ago, meaning that what was effective and influential five years ago is not necessarily so today, as today’s consumer is more likely to be influenced by someone in their social network than a weak celebrity connection. Today’s consumer is informed, time-compressed, and difficult to impress, and they are only influenced by ads that are relevant and provide information.”

There it is right there.  Here’s where I drive my sales pitch for the $72 million home.  Today’s consumer is more likely to be influenced by someone in their social network than a celebrity or superstar athlete. Well this blog is in your social network.  I’m on twitter here and facebook here, and YouTube here.  Sign me up.


Delayed round one of Sony Open underway!

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, January 14th, 2011
Categories: PGA TourPro Golf

The weather is cooperating enough for play to start at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.  As of now, 12:20ET, play should have started 10 minutes ago.  More to come.

Update:  YES the tournament IS underway!  Steve Flesch has birdied his first hole, #10.  They’re sending groups out the front and back at the same time today to save time.


Golf Drama

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, January 14th, 2011
Categories: European TourGolfLPGA TourMiscellaneousPGA TourPro Golf

Is it just me, or has the golf world seemingly become more like an episode of Jersey Shore?  It seems like half the headlines these days from the golf world are about golfers’ personal relationship issues.

Gulbis Johnson

Lately there’s been word, though not a peep from Dustin Johnson, that Natalie Gulbis and DJ are dating.  After that word was made public by Natalie at the Tour’s season opener, DJ surprisingly canceled his appearance in the Sony Open to head back home and take care of some “personal” things.  Many media outlets are speculating that DJ may not have made the break from his former live-in girlfriend and that is why he had to head home rather than playing the Sony.  Based on the weather, DJ may be thinking that was a good idea to bail on the Sony anyway.

The golf world, especially TaylorMade/adidas would love to have these two in the spotlight. Their gear would be featured every time some golf TMZ outlet did a story on them.

Names for the couple is a hot topic.  Golf Channel announcer Charlie Rymer came up with a good one, “D-Nat.”  “Gulbis Johnson” sounds like some sort of male growth problem.  Other possibilities include “GulbDust,” “DustNat,” “JoNat” and “TaylorMates.”

Tiger Prowling Stalking?

The National Enquirer (yes, such a classy publication I know) is reporting that Tiger Woods broke into Elin Nordegren’s house to read her diaries and go through her personal papers.  I doubt this is true, but if it is that is crazy.

Tiger’s Mistresses

Of course, there’s the constant flow of bizarre news from the wacky Tiger Woods’ mistresses.  One day some mistress is opening a salon called “Tigress” and the next another one in rehab or on some low life reality show on TV.  The latest, Mindy Lawton (the “busty” Orlando Perkins hostess) was booked into jail for drunk driving.  She’ll be in the can for a year.

Rory McIlroy

Much has been posted about the breakup of Rory McIlroy and his long time girlfriend Holly Sweeney.  They began dating when Rory was 16 and Holly was 14.

And that was only two years ago… haha.

All joking aside, there’s been quite a lot of fun twitter bantering between McIlroy and Lee Westwood about what McIlroy has to do now that he doesn’t have a girlfriend.  I’ll leave it at that and let your imagination take you down whatever road your mind prefers.

McIlroy wasn’t going to play very much on the US PGA Tour, so he could spend more time with Holly.  One wonders if he’ll spend more time in the US in 2011 after this breakup.

On another Rory McIlroy subject, is it just me or does Rory look like Paul McCartney?

Kandi Harris Mahan Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

Any excuse to post a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader picture...

Hunter Mahan

Some good and non-Jersey Shore news in the golf relationship world comes from Hunter Mahan.  Hunter and Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Kandi Harris will be tying the knot tomorrow in Dallas.

Best HOG wishes to Hunter and Kandi Mahan for a long and happy marriage.

Speaking of Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders

Ah yes.  Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders…  I remember when I was a teenage boy, about 14.  I had a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader poster in my room.  Those were the good old days.


Waialae unplayable – Round one of Sony Open cancelled

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Categories: PGA Tour
Sony Open round one cancelled

Photo by Justin Rose of #9 fairway at Waialae

It is official.  Round one has been canceled at the Sony Open.  Waialae is soaked and unplayable.

The social networks will be buzzing with bored professional golfers tweeting, facebooking and posting photos of playing video games now.

The PGA Tour is going to try to complete the tournament on Sunday by having a 36 hole finish that day, with round one on Friday and round two on Saturday.

As my pal Ryan pointed out, there’s already a 40% chance of rain on Sunday.

There has never been a Monday finish in this tournament.


Sony Open round one delayed FOUR hours

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Categories: PGA Tour

Just a few minutes ago I posted that there was a one hour delay for round one of the Sony Open.  That delay has been changed to FOUR hours, and that may not be the end of the delays either if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

I’ll keep posting status updates as they become available.


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