The Montag Group has signed its first active golfer client, 18-time LPGA winner Cristie Kerr, for representation in all areas. A team of agents, including agency founder Sandy Montag, will represent Kerr, who is interested in the possibility of becoming a broadcaster when she retires from playing. Montag reps many top sports broadcasters. He said, "We are representing her on- and off-the-course for branding, marketing, endorsements, working with her wine brand, which is a high-end boutique brand in Napa." Signing Kerr does not necessarily signal that TMG, which Montag launched last year after working for 30 years at IMG, is getting into the business of representing golfers. He is not currently hiring any extra staff with golf experience to represent Kerr. "Having been involved in all sports and having representing golf broadcasters, we know all the players, from people at the the tour, to broadcasters to sponsors," Montag said. TMG, which recently merged its talent representation business with IF Management, represents more than 200 broadcasters, including golf announcers Jim Nantz, Ian Baker-Finch, Kelly Tilghman and Terry Gannon. Kerr was looking for representation and a mutual friend suggested she hire TMG, Montag said. Kerr in an email said she wanted someone who could help her with her future as well as her current business. Her sponsors include Lacoste, Richard Mille, PXG and Titleist. Her wine brands, Curvature and Kerr Cellars, have produced critically acclaimed wines, and have received 90+ point scores from Wine Spectator and renowned wine critic Robert Parker. Although Kerr has not made a definite decision to become a future broadcaster, her interest in broadcasting factored into hiring Montag. She said, "I love the sport of golf and feel there could be a role for me someday but I wanted to work with Sandy prior to that determination to make sure I was ready should the opportunity arise."
