Golfer Jordan Spieth lost a two-stroke lead to Bubba Watson during the final round at The Masters, but his run at a green jacket provided Under Armour "with no shortage of worldwide exposure," according to Ryan Sharrow of the BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Spieth was "dressed head-to-toe -- literally -- in the sportswear maker's apparel and footwear," and his golf bag also is a UA product. The brand "aimed to capitalize on the exposure by prominently featuring Spieth on their website, directing fans to a page where the outfits he wore throughout the Masters were available for purchase." The products include golf shoes, a belt, hat and shirt -- all of which "prominently feature Under Armour's interlocking UA logo" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/13). ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted the 20-year-old Spieth "has other deals, but aside from a Titleist logo on his glove and golf bag and a NetJets logo on the bag as well, no company gets anything visible." Much of UA's marketing history has "come from signing under-the-radar guys." But Spieth is "part of new wave of the company's bet of big promises and big money." UA "courted Spieth for years" and "had a couple of things going for it." Of the four golfers that UA had under contract, the "one who had the biggest deal, Hunter Mahan, was represented by Jay Danzi, who also represented Spieth." When Spieth met with UA, the company "not only pitched him on being among a select few wearing the interlocking 'UA' on the golf course, but also committed to making him its first head-to-toe golfer." Neither UA or Danzi would "say how much Under Armour paid to land Spieth or how long his deal is, other than to say it's a long-term deal" (ESPN.com, 4/12).
ALL IN THE FAMILY: CBS during yesterday's final round interviewed Spieth's father, mother and brother at Augusta National. They could be seen wearing UA apparel (THE DAILY).
