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Earlier this year, after Tiger topped Forbes' highest-paid athletes list for the eight straight year, the subhead read: "Nothing can stop the Tiger Woods money machine." 

That was back when Sunday Tiger news was of the "wins another major while opponent wilts due to the pressure" variety.

Yesterday's story that global consultancy Accenture (NYSE:ACN) is dropping Tiger as a spokesman was more in the "loses some more reputation while Jon Gosselin whimpers due to lack of attention" variety.

Accenture was the first sponsor to sever ties with Tiger (Pepsi's (NYSE:PEP) Gatorade only took away his drink). Accenture stated that he was "no longer the right representative" after the "circumstances of the last two weeks."

Meanwhile, Phil Knight of Nike (NYSE:NKE) says: "When his career is over, you'll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it right now."

A New Yorker article by James Surowiecki sheds some light, noting that "a huge gap has opened up between Woods's advertising persona and his public image."

Given this, it makes sense that Accenture (rather than Nike) is the first sponsor to leave. If you're an Accenture consultant trying to win business from a new client, you loved being associated with the laser-focused, uber-professional winner that was the public image of Tiger Woods. Now? Well, you can look to your own thoughts for guidance.  

Share those thoughts in the comments section below.

Anand Chokkavelu is a former Accenture employee and owns shares in Accenture. You can follow him on Twitter. The Fool has a disclosure policy.