PGA Tour rookie Spike McRoy has signed his first non-
golf endorsement deal with Ruth's Chris Steak House,
according to Thomas Hall of the WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Beginning with last weekend's Greater Hartford Open, McRoy
will wear the New Orleans-based restaurant chain's logo on
his sleeve during all PGA events. The deal was negotiated
by McRoy's agent and caddie, DC-based Adam Lenkin. Ruth's
Chris VP/Marketing Harry Day: "The deal is mostly incentive-
based, as well as all the free steaks he wants at any time"
(WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/28 issue).
GOLF NOTES: Maxfli Golf has appointed Atlanta-based
Richards/Shutze, an affiliate of the Richards Group in
Dallas, as its ad agency of record (Maxfli)....Greg Norman
is forming a joint venture called Turnberry Resort
Developments with Australia's Macquarie Bank "to raise
investment capital" to build golf courses around the world.
The company is currently looking at eight sites in Australia
(GOLF.COM, 7/28)....In Salt Lake, Kurt Kragthorpe reported
that UT-based Franklin Covey will not continue as title
sponsor of the Senior PGA Tour Event, now known as the
Franklin Quest Championship (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/28)....In
N.Y., Kathryn Kranhold reported of increased advertising by
golf companies. This year's ad rates for PGA events were
locked in last year, "before the Tiger Woods phenomenon
jacked up ratings," which will likely send ad rates
"soaring." Lamkin Corp. co-Owner Bob Lamkin, on his
company's "I am Tiger Woods" parody campaign, which ran
during the British Open: "If we're going to be a player, we
need to jump in with both feet" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/28).