Tiger Woods' long-serving agent departs IMG

Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods' agent of the last 12 years and head of the IMG golf division, is no longer with the sports management company after failing to renew his contract.

"He is no longer with IMG," company spokesman Jim Gallagher said after IMG announced a reorganisation of its golf division, with Steinberg no longer involved. The move could lead to Woods leaving Cleveland-based IMG, which has represented him for his entire career.

Steinberg's contract was to expire in June. He was negotiating a new deal with IMG on Tuesday when talks broke down, according to two officials aware of the discussions. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release information.

The officials said Woods and Annika Sorenstam would be free to leave IMG and stay with Steinberg if they wanted. Woods signed with IMG when he turned pro in August 1996, and Steinberg became his agent three years later.

In a two-sentence press release, IMG said Guy Kinnings and Robbie Henchman would be co-heads of IMG Golf. Kinnings was senior vice-president of European golf operations, while Henchman was senior vice president of golf in Asia Pacific.

Ousted Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston, the vice chairman of IMG, will oversee the business of the golf division.