Cashing In

Masters champion Zach Johnson is well-positioned to cash in on his victory. Rick Horrow, chairman of the sports marketing and consulting company Horrow Sports Ventures, predicts that Johnson could parlay his win at Augusta into endorsements worth between $5 million and $10 million. The pro from Iowa already has five sponsors, including Titleist, Bayer, clothing manufacturer Dunning Golf, professional services firm RSM McGladrey, and Aegon USA, an international financial services company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The possibilities for the fresh-faced Johnson might be limitless. For example, a recent article in GolfWeek indicated that former U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk earns an estimated $10 million a year from various endorsements. For example, Furyk commands $25 million over five years from his equipment company, Srixon, for his hat, bag, glove, irons and ball. He gets another $25,000 a year for wearing Ahead hats and $500,000 a year from Marquis Jet for wearing its logo on the side of the hat. Chiliwear Apparel pays him $500,000 a year plus royalties for his shirts; Johnny Walker Collection gives him $666,666 a year to put its logo on the back of his neck; and he gets $1.2 million a year from Exelon for wearing its logo on his chest and sleeve. Throw in $30,000 a year for his shoe deal with Adidas and the fees he receives as a spokesman for Aleve, American Express, Electronic Arts, Furyk Golf Design, and Golf Magazine and you have a walking, talking, golfing conglomerate. No wonder pro golfers look more and more like NASCAR drivers every week.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to R.H. Sikes.