Sports News

The sex scandal in which Tiger Woods has become embroiled has left some corporate sponsors supporting while others are reevaluating their relationship with the world's No. 1 golfer.

Here are some positions taken by sponsors:

* TAG HEUER (LVMH.PA) - Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer, a unit of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, said on Friday it had decided to "downscale" use of Woods image in its advertising in the coming months. The company said the decision was made out of respect for Woods' request for privacy. Tag Heuer Chief Executive Jean-Christophe Babin told Swiss daily Le Matin the company was cutting Woods from its U.S. advertising for the foreseeable future.

* UPPER DECK - Trading card and memorabilia company Upper Deck said on Tuesday it would not end its sponsor deals with Tiger Woods. "Upper Deck will maintain its exclusive agreement with Tiger in both our sports cards and memorabilia categories, and we look forward to his eventual return to the PGA Tour," Upper Deck Chief Executive Officer Richard McWilliam said.

* ACCENTURE (ACN.N) - Technology outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture said on Sunday it was ending its six-year sponsorship deal with Woods. "The company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising," it said. Accenture was the first major sponsor to drop Woods outright.

* GILLETTE (PG.N) - Shaving products maker Gillette, a unit of Procter & Gamble, which featured Woods in its razor commercials, said on Saturday, "As Tiger takes a break from the public eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in our marketing programs."

* NIKE (NKE.N) - Nike, the American athletic shoe maker is standing by its man. "I think he's been really great," Nike chairman Phil Knight told Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal in an interview published on Monday. "When his career is over, you'll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it right now."

* PEPSICO (PEP.N) - U.S. drink and snack maker PepsiCo's Gatorade unit decided before the sex scandal that it would drop its "Tiger Focus" drink.

* AT&T (T.N) - The U.S. telecommunications company said it was evaluating its relationship with Woods.

* ELECTRONIC ARTS (ERTS.O), TLC VISION CORP (TLCV.O), and Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) unit NETJETS all said they were standing by Woods, but that was before he admitted in a statement on Friday that he had cheated on his wife.

* PGA TOUR - Professional golf faces a tough time with the indefinite loss of its biggest draw. TV ratings slumped nearly 50 percent when Woods took eight months off to rehabilitate an injured leg. On Thursday, the head of the U.S. professional golf tour applauded Woods' decision to take a break from the game and played down concerns that the sport would suffer severely from his absence. (Reporting by Ben Klayman in Chicago and Tom Brown in Miami)