Electronic Arts and Tiger Woods have been a pair in the golfing genre for a very long time in the video game industry and many felt like that partnership would fall through when Woods was plastered all over tabloids for his indiscretions. However, the sports gaming giant stuck by its cover athlete through those dark times and have continued to release its product with Tiger Woods as the focal point of its game.

However, it would appear that Tiger Woods and EA Sports’ relationship will only last as long as the golfer can continue to play at a high level. After all, who would want to play a sports game that isn’t supported by one of the best players in its sport? Could you imagine if EA Sports decided to put Michelle Wie on the cover — it would be a disaster. No one is looking to play a golf game with input from a choke artist that doesn’t know how to finish events, right?

Last year, EA CEO John Riccitiello pointed out that so long as Tiger was one of the world’s best golfers, he’d continue to be there guy:

“We have no plans to move away from him, but it’s a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game and he’s the best golfer,” Riccitiello said. “Both of those things need to be true in the long run for the partnership to make sense. He sort of stuck with us for a very long time and we made great business together, and we’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.”

This year, it seems like the company is planning on sticking with the same mantra and only standing beside Woods so long as his play returns to form.

“He’s still the best golfer in the world, which is really all that we’re interested in and really what’s important to us. Honestly, he’s been a fundamental part of our franchise and he’s just continuing to help us. We’re still extremely happy that he’s part of the game,” states lead designer, Mike DeVault.

So, does this mean if Tiger plays as poorly through 2011 and perhaps even 2012 that EA Sports will introduce a new cover star on its Tiger Woods franchise? Obviously a name change will be in order as well, I’d assume. It’ll definitely be interesting to see if EA stays true to its word of only supporting Tiger so long as he’s one of the best or not.