Hambric Sports Management's Rocky Hambric has "labeled
published reports that state" he gave his recently signed
client, Charles Howell, a $1M guarantee and provided a job
for Howell's father (see THE DAILY, 7/25) as "inaccurate,"
according to GOLFWEEK.com. While a Golf World Business
report cited "unidentified sources" as saying that Hambric
lured Howell with those two provisions, as well as a
"percentage" of Hambric's company, Hambric said that the
deal "does not guarantee [Howell] a cent, although he is
expected to sign" club/ball/apparel deals that "could exceed
seven figures a season." Hambric also said that Howell's
father "has not been offered, nor has he been seeking, a
position," at the company. But Hambric added that Howell
"could get a piece of the company" (GOLFWEEK.com, 7/26).
Both Ping and Callaway are reportedly interested in signing
Howell, and GOLF WORLD reports that Ping "has been close to
Howell since be enrolled" at OK State Univ., where Howell's
roommate was Andy Solheim, son of Ping President John
Solheim. Meanwhile, Callaway's "inside track is Howell's
instructor," David Leadbetter (GOLF WORLD, 7/28 issue).
SINGH IT AGAIN: GOLF WORLD reports that Vijay Singh
signed a new three-year deal with Acushnet to play Titleist
balls and wear FootJoy shoes and glove (GOLF WORLD, 7/28).
