Phil Mickelson May Benefit from Tiger's Fall from Grace

If there is one man who stands to benefit from Tiger Woods' fall from grace, it could be Phil Mickelson.

The Woods-Mickelson rivalry has been a given on the PGA Tour where Tiger has gotten the best of Phil. Woods has also been more coveted as a corporate spokesman.

But that is about to change.

As quickly as you can say "tabloid," the image of Tiger Woods has changed forever.

The "squeaky-clean" image of Woods as a devoted family man earned him HUGE sponsorship dollars from the likes of Accenture, Nike, AT&T, EA Sports, Gatorade, just to name a few.

That scene is changing quickly with Accenture's decision to ditch Woods in light of his admitted "infidelity."

On the other hand, the powers at KPMG are likely back-slapping themselves for stepping in when a former Mickelson sponsor, Bearing Point, fell on hard financial times and ended its relationship with Mickelson in 2008. KPMG took over a three-year deal with Phil and remains with him today.

Another Woods' sponsor, AT&T, the company that pays handsomely for that spot on his golf bag, is "evaluating" its situation with Woods, which is code for "our attorneys are looking for an 'out-clause' in our contract."

Will this situation create an opportunity for Mickelson?

Probably.

Notice that Mickelson has not commented on the Woods situation. You can bet when he does, he will choose his words very carefully.

There could be enhanced endorsement dollars at stake.

Depends on how the economy progresses, if indeed it does.

The PGA Tour is treading carefully in this economy as many of its major sponsors are suffering. A tour without Tiger is a less attractive tour, unless Mickelson's brand can be enhanced.

All that will take is a win by Mickelson at Augusta.

Which begs the question: will Woods return to the tour in April?

Woods' sponsors may also consider something else. Will the ones who stay, mainly Nike, ask for the "infidelity discount" when its time to re-up those contracts?

Nike won't leave Woods, it has built its entire golf brand around him. Chairman Phil Knight refers to the Woods scandal as a "blip." Perhaps Woods can have Knight convince Elin that it's all just a "blip."

Blip or no blip, some corporate eyes may now take a much closer look at Mickelson, who left the tour this year to be at wife Amy's side while she battled breast cancer.

It's a much better image than Tiger Woods pulling a vanishing act that the late Howard Hughes would have envied.

Tiger's in hiding, which means its time for Mickelson to show up—on and off the golf course.