GOLFWEEK's "Forecaddie" reports that Tom Lehman, who is
No. 11 in the world on golf's earnings list, is attempting
to "up the ante" in his Dockers endorsement deal from
$500,000 a year to $2M for the next three years, but that
"so far Dockers has balked at the demand" (GOLFWEEK, 6/21).
OFF THE LINKS: Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer filed a
trademark-infringement suit yesterday against NY-based JP
Productions alleging that the company is selling fake
autographs from the golfers (N.Y. POST, 6/26)....Callaway
Golf announced yesterday that it has sold its $7M share in a
foundry joint venture with Sturm, Ruger & Co., one of
Callaway's main suppliers of Big Bertha titanium castings.
Sturm, Ruger will assume sole ownership of the foundry
operation (Callaway)....London-based Alfred Dunhill Ltd., a
maker of men's clothing and leather goods, is introducing
the Alfred Dunhill Golf Collection of shirts, trousers,
shorts and accessories in the U.S. this fall. Shirts will
retail for $135-165 (GOLFWEEK, 6/21)....For the third year
in a row, the U.S. Open has generated record merchandise
sales, with totals from the event estimated at $8.75M. The
'97 U.S. Open marked the last time the host club would
"manage operations and collect it own revenues," because the
USGA will switch to a "straight rental-fee arrangement" at
upcoming events (Chuck Stogel, GOLFWEEK, 6/21).
