Nike continue to sponsor Tiger Woods

Despite the golf superstar Tiger Woods has taken an indefinite leave from golf  because of personal issues, Nike will continue to stand by him.

On Thursday, President of Nike brand Charlie Denson said: "Under the circumstances, the more he deals with the issues and the better he deals with them, the better off he'll be when he does return,"

 He hoped Woods come back on the course after resolving his private life, which has been the focus of the publicsince a bizarre car crash outside his Florida home last November revealed sex scandal.

Woods issued a public apology press conference last week and has sought inpatient treatment.

 The sports giant's $650 million golf sector has been one of the hardest-hit segments of its business during the global recession, but Nike is standing by Woods despite any damage done to its imagine by his high-profile transgressions.

AT&T and Accenture dropped Woods from their roster of sponsorships, and others like Procter & Gamble Co.'s Gillette and Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer de-emphasized him in their marketing.

"We've been supportive of Tiger since the story broke and we continue to be supportive," Denson said. "He's got issues he needs to deal with and he's dealing with them. We are looking forward to him getting back on the golf course."

Woods said last week that he spent 45 days in treatment and he planned to seek additional therapy. He did not say when he'll return to the course.

"We've been in touch with his camp," Denson said. "We're very comfortable with where he's at, how he's dealing with it and we're looking forward to his return."

Being cynical I can't help thinking that it was a good get out clause for these big companies to save money on not to sponser Tiger, given the economic meltdown.In a strange twist these companies have had more exposure for the fact that they have dumped him. It's a mad world.