Ain't No Sunshine: Goydos Declines Last-Minute Hat Sponsorship
By Jon Show, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
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Goydos Sports Hat From Alma Mater After
Turning Down Sponsorship Deal At The Players |
Paul Goydos, who wore the hat of his alma mater, Long Beach State, while playing in one of the final two groups of The Players Championship this weekend, turned down a low-six figure cap sponsorship with Jacksonville-based recruiting firm MPS Group on Friday evening, according to a well-placed source. The initial inquiry was a one-off weekend deal for Goydos, who lost to Sergio Garcia in a one-hole playoff, but talks expanded to include the rest of ‘08 and an option for ‘09. Sources said Goydos, whose lack of hat sponsor was regularly mentioned during the NBC telecasts, turned down the opportunity, in part, because the offer would have forced him to wear the hat starting on Saturday. Talks are still underway with MPS, which sponsored former PGA Tour player Len Mattiace a few years ago. Goydos, who has won two PGA Tour events with a mix of different club brands, currently has ball/shoe/glove and driver deals with Titleist. His agent, Bobby Kreusler, said Goydos recently turned down a private aviation deal. “When we signed him (late last year) he said, ‘You guys might not like me because I say no a lot,'” said Kreusler. Goydos does not have any non-endemic sponsors and turned down a full equipment deal with TaylorMade at the end of '07, according to the source. A one-year hat deal with Pep Boys ended at the end of last year. Kreusler said he is talking with companies in the financial services and beverage categories. Kreusler: “There’s been a few inquiries and people who are now just starting to get back to us based on conversations we had months ago.” Kreusler also is finalizing plans for a makeover show with Golf Digest fashion guru Marty Hackel that would include a new clothing sponsor. Hackel last week ranked Goydos the worst-dressed player on the PGA Tour.
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