Chicago-based Boeing “signed a long-term deal with” golfer Ernie Els which will earn the jet maker “some nice airtime on the golfer’s sweater,” according to Danny Ecker of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The endorsement deal “is the first for Boeing with an individual athlete.” The deal came together “just two months ago” at the RBC Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, S.C. Els apparently “hit it off with representatives with Boeing, which set in motion negotiations between the company and his new management group, Richmond, Va.-based ProsInc.” ProsInc co-Founder Vinny Giles “touts the deal as a logical fit for Mr. Els’ other ‘international’ endorsement partners which include RBC Bank, Callaway Golf and software corporation SAP.” Boeing Dir of Communications Mark Hooper said that deal is “part of Boeing’s effort to appeal to more international customers” (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 6/18).
NOT A LAUGHING MATTER: Meanwhile, Els said CBS analyst David Feherty’s recent comment about his putting stroke was “a low blow,” and called him a “shock jock.” Feherty at the Tavistock Cup in March introduced Els to the gallery by saying that Els would be "putting with a rattlesnake." Els said, “I’ve known David for a long time, but for him to have said that was totally shocking and -- well, not out of character, because he tries to shock the world all the time, but it was a low blow. It wasn’t a gentlemanly thing to do. I wouldn’t have done that” (GOLF magazine, 7/'12 issue).
