Why Tiger Woods was dropped by Accenture

It finally happened. One of Tiger Woods's biggest sponsors, the worldwide management consultants Accenture, has decided to end its arrangement with the golfer following a fortnight of revelations about his private life, saying he is "no longer the right representative".

"For the past six years, Accenture and Tiger Woods have had a very successful sponsorship arrangement and his achievements on the golf course have been a powerful metaphor for business success in Accenture's advertising," the company said in a statement issued on Sunday.

"However, given the circumstances of the last two weeks, after careful consideration and analysis, the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising."

Accenture - formerly known as Anderson Consulting - made its decision after Tiger Woods announced on Friday that he was taking an "indefinite break" from golf in an effort to save his marriage. Earlier, another sponsor, Gillette, announced it was cutting back Woods's role in its marketing campaign.

Corporate sponsors have been responsible for a major proportion of Wood's record $1bn earnings.

The question now is whether Tiger will ever return to the professional game - and, if he does, will he ever be able to reproduce the magic? The Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie, who will captain Europe's Ryder Cup team against the United States next year, says Tiger's decision to take a break has "cracked" his aura and possibly changed the fortunes of his rivals.

"There was an aura and that wall has been split slightly," said Montgomerie, "so there are cracks and it gives us more opportunity of winning big events.

"He is suddenly - I hate so say - more normal. If that is normal! There is a mystique which has been lost and let's hope golf isn't damaged. It shouldn't be."

Montgomerie saw his own marriage problems played out in the tabloids when his first wife Eimear sued him for divorce three years ago on the grounds of "unreasonable behaviour due to an obsession with golf". In April 2008 he remarried the Scottish millionairess Gaynor Knowles.

No one knows when - if ever - Tiger will feel ready to return to golf. But as The First Post reported on Saturday, Tiger is ambitious to break Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles and therefore might hope to return in time for the US Open at Pebble Beach in June 2010 and the Open Championship at St Andrews the following month.

Ironically, most golf commentators are agreed that if Tiger misses the Ryder Cup next autumn, it will actually improve the United States' chances: his record as a team player is not great.

WHAT OTHER GOLFERS ARE SAYING:Geoff Ogilvy, Australian golfer: "Indefinite is a scary word. If Tiger Woods indefinitely doesn't play golf, that's not good for us."

Peter Alliss, BBC gold commentator: "I would advise him to go and see the people that Michael Douglas, the actor, went to see because he had addictive sex problems. He's obviously got a problem. Now we have to see how strong his mind is."

Craig Parry, Australian golfer and a friend of Tiger's: "What he did was totally wrong. He's got no one to blame except himself."

Jack Nicklaus, American winner of 18 majors: "Our public is pretty forgiving at times. Time usually heals all wounds."

Greg Norman, Australian golfer whose marriage to tennis star Chris Evert came to an end this year: "When you step across the line you've got to kind of take a little bit of the wrath of God, or whatever you want to call it."

Steve Williams, Tiger Woods's caddie: "I will be there for him when he wishes to return to play. I had no knowledge of what Tiger's indiscretion was... I had no knowledge of what was going on." ·