A marketing agreement between Jack Nicklaus and Nike
"could happen," but "talks so far between the sides are only
preliminary," according to sources of Geoff Russell of GOLF
WORLD. For Nike, adding Nicklaus would "fill a demographic
void in the company's marketing appeal, inspire a possible
Nicklaus-Tiger Woods ad campaign, and, if the Nicklaus Golf
equipment company was part of the deal, a potential source
for Nike golf clubs" (GOLF WORLD, 10/20 issue).
TEE FOR TWO: In Boston, Jim McCabe writes that when
U.S. team captain Ken Venturi paired Tiger Woods and Notah
Begay for this week's Presidents Cup, he "took into account"
that the golfers "both play the Nike ball." Venturi: "They
expressed a desire to play in foursomes with someone that's
compatible with the same equipment, rather than switch back
and forth." Venturi also paired Jim Furyk and Hal Sutton,
both of whom play Strata balls (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/19).
MICKELSON'S $40-50M TAKE: GOLF WORLD's Russell reports
that Phil Mickelson is "close to finalizing two deals that
could be worth" $40-50M over the next five years. The
"first is a ball-shoe-glove-equipment deal" with
Titleist/FootJoy that "will make him one of the company's
top ambassadors." The second is with a financial services
company, which would get logo placement on Mickelson's
visor. Yonex, Mickelson's equipment company since '92, is
"left out of the new deal" (GOLF WORLD, 10/20 issue).
