• April 13, 2001

(AP) - Walt Disney Co. is planning to announce that it has signed golfer Tiger Woods to serve as a spokesman for the company, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The value of the deal is not yet known, but Woods has reportedly commanded as much as $100 million for a five-year sponsorship deal with Nike Inc. Woods would not comment on the report, said his agent Mark Steinberg.

Woods earned $54 million last year from a dozen endorsement deals, according to Burns Sports Celebrity Service, a business that represents companies in the hiring of celebrities. That surpasses the estimated $45 million basketball legend Michael Jordan made in his best year. Woods has contracts with General Motors, Rolex, American Express and General Mills, among others.

For Disney, Woods would appear in commercials for the company's theme parks, endorse merchandise, and work with Disney's ESPN unit.