BUSINESSWEEK’s Mark Hyman profiles LPGA Tour player Natalie Gulbis and writes her endorsement deals include TaylorMade-adidas, Titleist, MET-Rx, GeniSoy and EA Sports. Gulbis’ father, John, said that her deals “will generate more than a half-million dollars this year.” Gulbis also earns up to $15,000 for about six corporate outings a year. Hyman notes NATALIEGULBIS.com has received about 500,000 hits this year. The LPGA, which “loves to feature her for publicity purposes,” put her likeness on the LPGA-sponsored car at the Daytona 500. Gulbis has not won a tournament in three years on the LPGA and ranked 42nd on the money list this season (BUSINESSWEEK, 12/6 issue).
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| Gulbis The New Face Of The LPGA? |
RACING INTO THE FUTURE: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are featured in Fox’ new NASCAR ad campaign, via Cliff Freeman & Partners, with the theme “1 v. 42,” in reference to the 43-car field in Nextel Cup races. TV ads began airing nationally on Thanksgiving Day. Earnhardt Jr. is a “knight battling an evil army of 42 warriors,” Gordon is a “swashbuckler attacked by 42 pirates” and Johnson is a “futuristic head hunter chasing cyborgs.” HSI Productions’ Joseph Kahn directed the scenes, which were shot with body doubles in L.A. (ADWEEK, 11/29).
