Golf: Game maker Electronic Arts sticks with Woods

Electronic Arts Incorporated is sticking with embattled golfer Tiger Woods and plans to roll out an online game featuring the world number one this month.

EA Sports President Peter Moore said Woods is "still one of the greatest athletes in history" despite the personal scandal that enveloped Woods at the end of 2009.

"Our relationship with Tiger has always been rooted in golf," Moore wrote on a company blog on Monday. "We didn't form a relationship with him so that he could act as an arm's length endorser.

Moore also noted EA's extensive work over the past year in developing the new game, "Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online."

EA wouldn't comment on whether plans for a new edition of the popular "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" console game would be affected.

US telecoms giant AT&T and Accenture, the Dublin-based technology, management and outsourcing consultancy, both dropped their sponsorships of Woods in December.

Their moves came after Woods was embroiled in a sex scandal, admitted cheating on his wife and decided to take an indefinite break from competitive golf.

Other sponsors - Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer and razor-blade giant Gillette - have stopped using his image for the time being.

Sports equipment giant Nike, which pays Woods an estimated 40 million dollars a year, has issued unqualified support for Woods.

bb