Yesterday we told you about Vijay Singh’s boneheaded refusal to remove the logos of financial fraudster and former sponsor Allen Stanford from his clothing, but Singh is not the only person having trouble finding new sponsorships in these tough economic times.

(This is for you, golf.)

The entire sport of golf is suffering, and nowhere is that more on display than this weekend’s U.S. Open. Between economic hardship and populist anger, companies are having a tough time justifying tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to sponsor a sport already suffering from image problems in this recession.

The NEW YORK TIMES also notes that it’s not just corporate attendance that’s down at Bethpage Black:

The tournament — about 35 miles from Manhattan in Farmingdale, N.Y. — did not sell out its 42,500 daily tickets in advance for the first time since 1986. Tickets for the four competition rounds finally sold out June 14, and practice-round tickets were still available through the week. Bevacqua cites the lack of corporate support for the ticket availability.

Because organizers sold less than 50 hospitality tents, which range in price from $32,500 for a table of 12 inside a course-side pavilion to $230,000 for a 40-foot-by-40-foot shelter, the association was left with about 1,500 additional daily and weekly ticket packages to sell to the public.

The funny part is that even the companies willing to drop tens of thousands of dollars for schmoozing/boozing tents are embarrassed to be seen there, lest they become the target of outrage, as has happened with companies like AIG and Citi:

The tents that were sold remain shrouded in anonymity. There are no visible marquees because the occupants do not want to be known.

“Everybody is afraid of being seen out here,” Bevacqua said. “Until people understand how effective a tool this is, corporations will still use this as a tool, but they don’t want to draw attention or exposure to themselves.”

For all the talk of Tiger Woods opening up the appeal of golf to the masses, the sports retains its high-end luxury image and clientele. If golf wants to really get past the elitist image, we’d suggest the use of strippers.