Justin Leonard has signed a multi-year endorsement
agreement with MasterCard Inc. (MC), and will be featured in
the credit card company's "Priceless" ad campaign as well as
related promotions. A new spot titled "Nerves of Titanium,"
will premiere this weekend during British Open coverage on
ESPN and ABC, for which MC is the presenting sponsor. The
spot features highlights from Leonard's win at the '97
British Open. Leonard will also be featured in one of four
"Priceless British Open Moments" vignettes. Leonard joins
Tom Watson, who has been aligned with MC since '95, as a
golf spokesperson (MC). The deal is for three years, and
financial terms were not disclosed (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/15).
KUCHAR YOU OR AREN'T YOU? U.S. Amateur Champion Matt
Kuchar is writing a Player Diary for ESPN SportsZone during
the British Open. Kuchar, on the possibility that he may
turn pro: "I don't know what to do. Right now, I'm dead in
the middle. ... There are so many positives about going back
to school, and so many positives about going pro" (ESPN
SportsZone, 7/15). Kuchar said that the endorsement figures
agents have discussed with him "have caught his attention."
Kuchar: "They are saying millions. ... [and] saying it could
kind of secure me financially for life, which is quite a
positive" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/15).
