Golfer Jordan Spieth has signed a multiyear deal with Coca-Cola that will be "one of the biggest the company has made with an athlete," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Spieth will appear on "everything from television commercials to digital and social media as well as point-of-sale and on packaging for Coca-Cola products as well as its water brand Dasani." A source said that Spieth's deal is "on the same level as LeBron James, who had his own Sprite flavor for the last two years, Jennifer Aniston (Smartwater) and Taylor Swift (Diet Coke)." Coca-Cola VP/Connections Activation Peggy Loos said that the beverage company "wasn't in search to fill a spot, but was so impressed with Spieth at the Tour Championship ... that they hoped to do a deal." Spieth won the event, at which Coca-Cola serves as presenting sponsor. Rovell reports the company is giving Spieth a "guaranteed spot on its Olympian cans as golf returns to the Games for the first time in 112 years." Spieth also has endorsement deals with AT&T, Under Armour, Titleist, Rolex and NetJets, among others (ESPN.com, 1/13). Spieth is a late addition to Coca-Cola’s "6 pack" of Olympic hopefuls in the run-up to the Rio Games. The "6-pack" was announced with a full roster last August, but the company will make room for Spieth by identifying retired gymnast Nastia Luikin as the group’s representative “legend” alongside the six active athletes, a source said (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).
