Virginia-based web company Perfect Sense Digital last year was able to "snag a sponsorship" with golfer Jordan Spieth, joining the likes of Under Armour, AT&T, Titleist, Rolex and NetJets, and the five-year deal is "believed to be in the low six figures," according to Thomas Heath of the WASHINGTON POST. Spieth said, "It doesn’t matter how big the company is. It’s a right fit for our team. They were the right digital partners and the ones who were with me from the beginning and took a chance on me." Perfect Sense, which "builds and services Web sites" such as Spieth's, has a roster of clients that includes Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Billy Casper Golf, Special Olympics, Politico, Coca-Cola, Cisco, Wal-Mart, HGTV, the Food Network, Hanley Wood, U.S. News & World Report and Travel Channel. Perfect Sense CEO & co-Founder David Gang said that he was "looking for a sports endorsement not only to represent the company’s charitable inclination, but also to add pizazz to its mix and to check a box on his bucket list." Gang "first met Spieth during an event hosted by BET co-founder Sheila Johnson" at the '12 AT&T National held at Congressional Country Club. Gang said that he "liked the way Spieth conducted himself." He later learned he had "another connection to the athlete: Spieth has a special-needs sister; Gang’s son has Down syndrome." At Congressional a year later, Gang "called Spieth’s agent, Jay Danzi, and asked if they could 'do some things together.'" Part of the deal is Perfect Sense "having Spieth exclusively for advertising or promotion on Web sites and apps built by Gang’s Brightspot digital platform." Spieth also is "committed to golfing appearances with Perfect Sense clients," and Gang "earned a seat on the board of Spieth’s charitable foundation" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/13).
UNDER PRESSURE? In N.Y., Sydney Ember reports online sales of UA's golf apparel since Spieth won The Masters "have been up nearly" 100%, with many of the styles he wore during the tournament, including the navy shirt he wore with white pants in the final round, "sold out." Yet even as UA "finds itself in business with two of the hottest athletes in the country" -- Spieth and Warriors G Stephen Curry -- it is "still figuring out how best to capitalize on those relationships," especially when it comes to Spieth. At UA's Baltimore HQ, there have been "talks of a signature Spieth line and perhaps a world tour." There are plans to "introduce new golf apparel and footwear next spring." UA during this week's U.S. Open "will hold a contest for fans to win a limited-edition hat" that has the records Spieth has broken "printed under the brim." As for major TV advertising that "might focus" on Spieth, the company "is vague, only hinting at the possibility." UA Exec VP/Global Marketing Adam Peake said that the company in the near future "intends to focus on smaller social and digital campaigns" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/15).
