Wasserman has signed India’s No. 1-ranked golfer and European Tour top money winner Shubhankar Sharma and negotiated a long-term shoe and apparel deal for him with Nike.
Ian Keenan, Wasserman’s director of golf for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, is leading the team representing Sharma, 21. He was previously without representation.
Sharma was scheduled to compete in The Masters this past weekend, the fourth native of India to play in the prestigious tournament.
“As a first order of business, Sharma has penned a multiyear agreement with sportswear giant Nike as a global golf ambassador, which will see him wearing Nike apparel and footwear,” said Keenan, who is based in Wasserman’s London office.
As of now, Sharma does not have a club deal. “He uses a mix of brands and is in no rush to change at this point,” Keenan said.
Prior to the Masters, Sharma was ranked 72nd in the world, but that ranking has come as a result of a rash of success on the European and PGA Tour in the last four months. He’s won two European Tour events, the Joburg Open in South Africa in December and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in February. In March, Sharma tied for ninth after being in the lead at the WGC-Mexico, a PGA Tour event.
Sharma was leading both the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and the Asian Tour money lists last week but has aspirations to play on the PGA Tour, Keenan said.
Not only does Sharma have global appeal, Keenan said, he has the personality to be a great brand ambassador.
“Shubhankar is incredibly engaging and is good company to be around,” he said. “He is mature beyond his years.”
PRIORITY SETS RECORD: Priority Sports & Entertainment’s Mike McCartney realized a dream he’s had since he started as an NFL agent 17 years ago when he negotiated a record contract of fully guaranteed money for his client, Kirk Cousins.
Mike McCartney (right) negotiated Kirk Cousins’ fully guaranteed $84 million deal.courtesy of mike mccartney
Cousins, who was a free agent after being franchise-tagged by the Washington Redskins the last two years, signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings that pays him $84 million over the term of the contract.
“It’s fully guaranteed upon signing,” McCartney said, adding that Cousins signed it. “Hopefully this starts a change in how all contracts are done, so that all players can benefit from it.”
McCartney has represented Cousins since he was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft out of Michigan State by the Redskins.
This year, McCartney is representing University of Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta. Although he is not seen as a first-rounder in a quarterback-rich draft, Lauletta was MVP of the Senior Bowl in January.
Priority also signed Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson, Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo, Northwestern running back Justin Jackson, University of Miami offensive tackle KC McDermott, Cal defensive tackle James Looney, Washington State defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa, Utah offensive guard Salesi Uhatafe and San Diego State tight end David Wells.
Priority agents Kenny Zuckerman, Dominique Price and Kyle Dolan are representing the players.
WILL SPORTS SIGNS MITTELSTADT: The Will Sports Group has signed center Casey Mittelstadt, the eighth overall pick in last year’s NHL draft, and negotiated his entry-level deal with the Buffalo Sabres.
Will Sports Group founder and NHL player agent Ian Pulver and WSG consultant Sean Toomey are representing Mittelstadt, who had not previously signed with an agency because he was competing for the University of Minnesota. Mittelstadt, MVP of the World Junior Championship in January, recently left school and turned professional last week.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
