Carmaker Lotus will sponsor LPGA star

GETTY IMAGES Pettersen gets use of a Lotus Evora as part of the deal.

The green-and-yellow marks of sports-car maker Lotus will adorn the golf bag of LPGA star Suzann Pettersen for most of the high-profile tourneys this year.

The one-year sponsorship was completed earlier this month and will be announced this week by Group Lotus, which has not previously had a position in women’s golf. Most of Lotus’ work in sports has been in support of its Formula One racing team.

A native of Norway who has won six LPGA events and 10 international tournaments since turning pro in 2003, Pettersen has a head-to-toe apparel and equipment deal with Nike, but she also has sponsorship arrangements with Dow Chemical, Tag Heuer watches and EA Sports.

Pettersen, who in four tournaments this season has a pair of top-10 finishes, is represented by Huysman Nystuen Partners in Oslo, Norway, and Wasserman Media Group, which has worked with HNP since January 2010 to find new deals for her. WMG worked on her comprehensive arrangement with Nike this past offseason.

Lotus will be on the bag for the U.S. Open, British Open, Canadian Open and at least a dozen tournaments in the final half of the season. The full schedule still is being determined.

The deal with Lotus will provide Pettersen with the use of a Lotus Evora, and there is a cash component as well. Financial terms were not available, but the bag for an elite LPGA player typically goes for low six figures.