Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods’ longtime sports agent, was dismissed from sports agency IMG, The Post has learned.
Sources said that Steinberg’s 19-year career ended after the firm, run by cancer-stricken Teddy Forstmann, opted not to renew his contract, which expires June 30.
Steinberg typically pulled in about $3 million annually at IMG, but only generated about $1 million in revenue last year, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“In other words, he was fired for poor performance,” said one source.
A message on Steinberg’s cell phone was not returned.
Woods has a separate contract with IMG that also expires at the end of June. IMG is said to be pressing to keep Woods.
But sources said it’s likely he will follow Steinberg despite rumors that Woods is dating former IMG Vice Chairman Alastair Johnston’s step-daughter, Alyse Lahti Johnston.
Steinberg’s dismissal comes as Woods’ once-iconic career is in tatters in the wake of an infidelity scandal in 2009 that led to a divorce from his wife, Elin Nordegren.
Since then, Tiger’s slipped from the world’s most feared golfer to a meek No. 12 ranking.
That has made Steinberg less of a moneymaker for IMG at the same time the firm expands beyond athlete representation into college-team licensing and sporting events.
Steinberg is credited with being one of the main architects of Woods’ highly crafted image and growing the company’s golf business. He joined IMG in 1992 and became Woods’ agent in 1998.