The Golden Child has a new partner.
FanDuel Group announced recently that Texas native Jordan Spieth has joined its team as part of a new multi-year deal bringing together FanDuel and the PGA Tour.
The deal makes FanDuel Sportsbook the official sports betting partner of the PGA Tour. It also brings the operator in as Spieth’s exclusive sports betting provider and daily fantasy provider.
Despite the arrangement, Texans still do not have a legal sports betting option in the state. The next available opportunity to change that will be in the 2023 legislative session.
Spieth, PGA, FanDuel fashion three-way alliance
As part of the deal, expect to see Speith in FanDuel commercials and other advertisements of FanDuel’s golf-related products.
Spieth and FanDuel will additionally be partnering for other social media content and responsible gaming initiatives. Additionally, FanDuel will be working with the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, Spieth’s nonprofit organization that supports special needs youth, junior golf, and military families.
In his comments on the partnership, Spieth expressed excitement about the alliance. He also acknowledged how sports betting expansion can potentially increase the fan base for his sport.
“As the world of legal sports betting grows rapidly in the U.S., I’m incredibly excited about… the potential it has to bring new fans to the sport of golf.”
A native of Dallas, the 28-year-old Spieth has recorded 12 PGA tour wins, including three major championships. Spieth currently ranks 12th in the PGA Tour rankings. He has been the top-ranked player in the past, including enjoying a 26-week stint at No. 1 in 2015.
“Golf is an incredibly popular sport on the FanDuel platform,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Marketing Office of FanDuel Group. “We are always looking for new ways to engage the growing golf fanbase,” he added, describing the naming of Spieth as “the face of golf at FanDuel” as a “perfect fit.”
Spieth already shooting FanDuel commercials
Spieth spoke with Golf Digest about the deal while shooting a new commercial for FanDuel earlier this week.
“Eight years ago as a rookie, this is something I could have never imagined happening,” said Spieth. However, the remarkable growth of sports betting over the last three years has altered the situation considerably. In fact, today the close involvement of a popular pro athlete with sports gambling not just imaginable, but inevitable.
“I think it would be foolish not to get involved in this, there’s so much potential,” said Spieth.
He added how the PGA Tour’s involvement makes it easier for players to take part as well. “The fact that they are leaning all in makes us as players feel more comfortable” about striking such deals. As Spieth puts it, the tour’s endorsement by participation helps create a “safe space” for them to seek such partnerships.
Golf, gambling, FanDuel hope to continue growth together
Golf has traditionally been a game in which gambling has had a significant role. Thus it makes sense for betting on golf to have proven especially popular as online sportsbooks and DFS contests both continue to grow and expand.
As Golf Digest points out, in November 2020 DraftKings signed a similar multi-year partnership with Bryson DeChambeau to become the “face of DraftKings golf.”
FanDuel’s daily fantasy sports site and app are available in most of the United States, including Texas. Meanwhile, the FanDuel Sportsbook app is currently available to sports bettors in 10 states, though not in Texas where sports betting remains illegal.
