Finau Phenoms on Brink of Big Endorsement Deal?

by Mulligan Stu on Aug 2, 2007 9:43 AM EDT

The rash of teen boys turning pro was initiated several months back when two Utah brothers who most golf fans had never heard of (unlike, say, Tadd Fujikawa) turned pro at the ages of 16 and 17.

The 16-year-old is Gipper Finau, the 17-year-old Tony Finau. Both drive the ball a mile, and each has had success in Utah state amateur tournaments. Tony has already had success since turning pro, too, winning a PGA Tour Monday qualifier with a course record, then making the cut at the U.S. Bank Championship (and leading the field in driving average).

Now it sounds like the brothers are on the verge of signing a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal with a major equipment company:

(Tony) Finau and his business agent, Dieter Esch of Park City, confirmed Monday that negotiations with several major golf equipment companies are at the critical stage. Some Internet reports say the Finaus - 16-year-old Gipper, also a pro, is also involved - are asking for close to $10 million for an endorsement deal.

"There are a couple of companies that are looking at us," Tony said. "Namely, Callaway. ... So we will see if it goes through."

Esch, who co-owns the New York City-based Wilhelmina Artist Management Co., said the brothers and their parents and family friend Molonai Hola are talking to "four or five of the biggest players in the golf equipment world - Nike, Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist."

"We are talking to several and I expect something to be happening before the end of the summer," Esch said.

The $10 million sounds like a huge amount to give to a couple kids, but there's no word how long the contract would run. If Callaway, for example, can lock up two golfers with such tremendous upside for $10 million over, say, eight years, well, that's an investment. One that might pay off huge down the road if either of these guys becomes and star and if, after becoming a star, he sticks with that company that originally signed him.

The brothers continue to play Monday qualifiers and seek exemptions into Nationwide or PGA Tour tournaments. The Nationwide Utah EnergySolutions Championship is coming up in September, and both Finau brothers have received sponsor exemptions.

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