Questions remain whether Koepka can reach the upper echelon of golf marketabilityGETTY IMAGES
Nike received "millions of dollars in added brand exposure" at the PGA Championship from endorsers Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods being at the top of the leaderboard, according to data from Apex Marketing Group cited by CNBC's Dominic Chu. The winners of the golf season's four majors Koepka (PGA, U.S. Open), Patrick Reed (Masters) and Francesco Molinari (Open Championship), provided Nike with a total of $24.8M in brand exposure. Woods was "in the mix" to win both the Open Championship and PGA, and his "presence on the first page of that leaderboard" scored Nike around another $9.2M in brand exposure. But questions remain whether Koepka can "get to that upper echelon of golf marketability" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 8/15).
BROOKS WAS HERE: CBS' Nick Faldo noted Koepka has a "quiet personality," but is an "unbelievable athlete." Faldo: "He needs to show these things, have some fun. ... Get your phone out and show us what life's about being Brooks Koepka" ("PGA Championship," CBS, 8/13). CNBC's Adam Reed said Koepka is less marketable compared to other golfers as he is "quite a straight guy." Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer: "Koepka is what our system is producing. It is producing someone who does not have to go out and market themselves, market their brand, sell their personality to become highly successful financially." Rymer added, "He's doing what I would advise a young player to do. Don't worry about marketing yourself, don't worry about anything. You go out and put yourself in a bubble and you play golf" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 8/12).
