Gillette To 'Limit' Tiger Woods's Role

Gillette has become the first major sponsor of Tiger Woods to distance itself from the golf star after the storm over his private life. It said it would limit Woods's role in its marketing while the champion took time off to repair his personal life. The golfer has announced he is taking an indefinite break from professional golf to tackle his problems. In a statement released on his website, he admitted to "infidelity", after weeks of press speculation. Woods promotes brands ranging from AT&T to Nike, an array of endorsements which helped him become the first sports star to earn $1bn (�0.6bn), the Associated Press reports. Nike said late on Friday it supported his decision to withdraw from professional golf while AT&T said it was evaluating its relationship with Woods. The golfer will be phased out from Gillette's television and print advertising, and from public appearances and other efforts linking the two entities together, said Gillette spokesman Damon Jones. "This is supporting his desire to step out of the public eye and we're going to support him by helping him to take a lower profile," he added. Gillette has had a contract with Woods since 2007. Details of its value and length were not being made public immediately. According to the research firm Nielsen Co, Tiger Woods has not been seen in a prime-time television commercial since a Gillette ad on 29 November.