U.S. Open champ sees strong payday from smart business

U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark is back in action at The Travelers Championship after his first major championship validated the golfer’s bold business strategy.

Last week’s $3.6 million check took Clark over $10 million in earnings this year. He was solid tee-to-green using a variety of clubs thanks to a flexible equipment contract negotiated by his agency, The Familie. 

Clark joined the agency in 2021 as his PXG club deal was ending, and his agent Rob Mougey told Front Office Sports that the golfer wanted something nonrestrictive. “It was very much focused on what’s going to perform the best for him,” Mougey said.

He ended up with Titleist for the majority of his clubs. On Sunday, he also used an Odyssey putter and TaylorMade 3-wood.

Mougey said Clark might have earned a payday seven figures higher from another manufacturer.

“It’s not the easiest thing to do,” The Familie founder and CEO Steve Astephen added. “Because you want to look at money — always — but money will come from winning.”

Brands have been calling since Sunday — like one from a financial institution wanting to put its logo on Clark’s shirt. But his reps are primarily focused on the long game, such as Clark’s deal with Municipal, Mark Wahlberg’s apparel company, which includes equity.

“Our goal is to create some [collections] with Municipal and I think [co-founder & CEO Harry Arnett] and Mark are in this to hopefully build a business that has a sizable transaction in the next few years, as far as an exit,” Astephen explained.