Jordan Spieth is now "swinging the biggest financial stick of any golfer" on the PGA Tour after winning the Open Championship yesterday, making it his third career major win, according to Roger Groves of FORBES. Spieth's three-shot win over Matt Kuchar at Royal Birkdale "may have brought him to the point of deals beyond" where Tiger Woods left off despite not yet having Woods' "combined total body of work." Woods is "still the greatest closer we have ever seen," but the "likeable Spieth is the best current closer" -- he shot 5-under over the final five holes to secure the Claret Jug. Spieth also has "off-course attributes sponsors love." It "enhances a company's goodwill to be branded with one who consistently speaks faith, family and the humility to apologize to players and fans" for a 20-minute delay on the 13th hole in yesterday's final round. Spieth's presence on and off the course "just may cause sponsors with pent-up moneybags of endorsement money to now break open the reserves." Current Spieth sponsors include Under Armour, Titleist, Netjets, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Rolex and Wheaties (FORBES.com, 7/23). AT&T runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Spieth on his win, with text reading, "Another Stellar Performance, Another Major Championship." Coca-Cola also runs a full-page ad in USA Today that reads, "Cheers To You, Jordan" (THE DAILY). Meanwhile, THE STREET's Brian Sozzi wrote Spieth's win "brings some badly needed positive publicity to his beleaguered sponsor Under Armour" (THESTREET.com, 7/23).
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: A Titleist equipment truck was on camera for several minutes while Spieth addressed his approach shot on the 13th hole yesterday. Golf Channel's Rich Lerner said, “Just as Tiger's miraculous chip-in at the Masters in ’05 at the 16th hole was kind of a great unscripted ad for Nike, his company, this was an ad for Jordan's company, Titleist. They spent a lot of time (there). Here it is, can't miss it” (“Golf Central Live from The Open,” Golf Channel, 7/23).
ON THE PROWL: ESPN's Mike Greenberg said Spieth is the "closest thing to Tiger Woods that we currently have in the game," and he is the player "who most American fans are going to be interested in." Greenberg said, “If the day that happened to Jordan Spieth yesterday had happened to practically anyone else, I think it would have been less interesting to most fans” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 7/24). In London, Ed Malyon writes ever since Woods’ "fall from grace, there has been something of a longing within the sport for a superstar to replace him." Spieth is "so young and so phenomenally gifted that he alone has the chance to step up and dominate in a way not seen" since Woods' prime. The "push of sponsors and his management, consumed by the pursuit of endorsements, led to a militantly-maintained image" for Woods. Maylon writes of Spieth: "The path he must take is obvious -- he must be the Dallas born, basketball-loving guy he is. Nobody else. Combine that with this level of talent and everything will take care of itself" (INDEPENDENT.co.uk, 7/24).
