Greg Norman agreed to a
wide-ranging deal today with Acushnet Co. in which he will do more than just
play its Titleist golf clubs and balls. He'll distribute them, too.
The deal offered Norman
a chance to expand his role as the exclusive distributor in Australia for Cobra
Golf Equipment, part of the Acushnet family. Norman has been affiliated with
Cobra since 1990.
Great White Shark Enterprises
will be able to add the popular Titleist and FootJoy brands to its distribution
operations in Australia.
Terms of the agreement
were not disclosed.
Norman, a two-time British
Open champion, has won 18 times on the PGA Tour among his 86 worldwide victories.
He remains one of the most recognizable figures in golf, and has been equally
successful in business.
Great White Shark Enterprises
includes a clothing line, golf course design, wines, real estate and his own
brand of turf grass, used in last year's Super Bowl.
Titleist will be able to
use Norman in advertisements. Unlike other companies, Acushnet president and
CEO Wally Uihlein is more likely to emphasize the product instead of the player
in commercial spots.
Norman's relationship with
Titleist won't be noticeable on the golf course. While he will carry the Titanium
975D driver, Titleist forged irons, Vokey wedges and play the Titleist Professional
ball, he will not be a walking billboard.
He will continue to wear
his own clothing line, and the logo on his bag will be Mammothgolf.com.
Norman recently announced
a partnership in which Mammothgolf.com will drive the e-commerce store for Shark.com,
the golf and lifestyle Web site that Norman launched in August.
