Under Armour, the Baltimore, MD-based leader in sports performance apparel, footwear and accessories announced today that recently turned professional golfer, Jordan Spieth, will join the Brand’s roster of elite athletes.

The 2011-2012 Big 12 Player of the Year and first-team All-American will be included in a national advertising and in-store campaign starting in 2013. Under Armour continues to support the next generation of athletes and will design a head-to-toe look for Spieth.

“Jordan is a talented young athlete whose promising career is just getting started,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Global Brand and Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “We’re proud to add Jordan to our strong team of athletes as we continue to grow our brand globally and expand in the sport of golf.”

Spieth led the University of Texas Longhorns to a 2012 NCAA Championship and also earned himself low amateur honors at last year’s US Open at The Olympic Club. In total, he has made the cut in 6 of the 8 professional events he’s played as an amateur, including putting himself in contention to win the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship while only 16 years old.

Spieth is one of two players to win multiple US Junior Amateur titles (2009 and 2011) and was selected to the 2011 Walker Cup team where he earned an undefeated record. Spieth, who turned professional last month, will play this season via sponsor exemptions and qualifiers on the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour. Spieth has already received invitations to play the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Puerto Rico Open and the Panama Claro Championship.

“Throughout my athletic career I’ve worn Under Armour products and have always been impressed with how well their technology performs both on and off the course,” Spieth said. “It’s an honor to represent the Under Armour brand and join their roster of world-class athletes.”

The Seven Network has announced a landmark agreement which will see it cover all of Australia’s major horse races live.

In addition to Seven’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the network has been announced as the broadcast television partner for the BMW Sydney Racing Carnival, and the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne.

Coverage of the BMW Sydney Racing Carnival will include The Golden Slipper, while the Spring Racing Carnival includes the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.

In a press release today, Seven called the announcement of all major horse races on one network “a first for broadcast television in Australia”.

“This is a great day for Australian racing and a great day for Seven – all the big events live and available to all Australians” said Tim Worner, Seven’s chief executive.

“Live sport is a key part of Seven’s strategy and we look forward with great excitement to 2013 – when at times there will be live sport on all three of our channels simultaneously.” said Worner. “It is a great business outcome for Seven and a great breakthrough for viewers.”

Seven gained the rights to broadcast the Melbourne Cup in 2002, after over two decades of the iconic race being screened on rival Network Ten.

Glenmorangie, Scotland’s favorite single malt scotch whisky, today announced the expansion of World Hall of Fame golfer Tony Jacklin ‘s role from British to worldwide Brand Ambassador.

In his new position, Jacklin will make guest appearances at events throughout the U.S. and continue to work closely with the brand on several initiatives.

Jacklin, whose illustrious career embodies Glenmorangie’s commitment to perfection, is the most successful British golfer of his generation. He sparked a revival of golf among British youth and ended an 18-year wait for a British victor when he won The Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1969. Jacklin later served as the most successful European Ryder Cup captain, leading his men to the first European team victory in 28 years in 1985, and to their first-ever victory on American soil in 1987.

Since retiring from tournament play in 2004, Jacklin has become an esteemed golf course designer, developing signature courses worldwide. He notably co-designed with Jack Nicklaus a golf course in Florida called “The Concession” to commemorate  the historic Ryder Cup tie after Nicklaus conceded Jacklin’s two-foot putt on the18th green, halving the match in 1969.

“Tony’s lifetime of tireless determination and pursuit of perfection mirrors the same intensity our craftsmen apply to creating our award-winning spirit. We are honored he is a part of our family,” said Brian Cox , Vice President of Glenmorangie in the U.S.

“I am very proud to be working alongside Glenmorangie, which I have always regarded as a leader in its field,” said Jacklin.

The fastest growing single malt whisky in the U.S., Glenmorangie has received tremendous accolades from the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Jim Murray ‘s Whisky Bible and Wine Enthusiast.

Glenmorangie’s relationship with Jacklin is the brand’s latest initiative to connect aficionados of premium scotch whisky and golf. In 2012, the brand announced its three-year partnership with The Open Championship as the Official Whisky of the venerable major. Glenmorangie will become Official Spirit of The Open this year.

Swiss sports watch brand Certina has renewed it’s long-term partnership with Sauber F1 Team.

The Certina lettering will appear on the sidepod wind deflectors as well as on the helmet visors of both drivers. Certina will also be providing its precision sports timepieces to drivers Nico Hülkenberg (DE) and Esteban Gutiérrez (MX) as well as the entire race team. 

“Certina has always been strongly committed to cutting-edge technology,” says Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team, “and that’s an ideology we share. Since 2005, we have also been united by an enduring partnership that embraces common values such as innovation and efficiency. These are key factors behind the upturn in the Sauber F1 Team to which Certina has made a definitive contribution.” 

Adrian Bosshard, President von Certina, corroborates this: “After an eight-year partnership with the Sauber F1 Team, we are delighted to be continuing to make use of this dynamic and innovative Formula One platform. The Team’s professional work ethic and typical Swiss mindset are the perfect match for our brand.”

The PGA TOUR and Humana Inc., one of the America’s leading health care companies have extended it’s partnership.

As part of the new agreement, Humana will continue as Official Health Benefits Company of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour and also will become the first “Health and Well-Being Partner of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

Humana utilizes the Official Marketing Partnership to promote its health and well-being platform through initiatives such as the Humana Walkit program and the Humana Well-Being Tour at tournaments, as well as its “Walk Like a Pro” advertising thematic and sponsorship of PGA TOUR players. This partnership with the PGA TOUR is another way Humana is raising the conversation about health and spreading its message of well-being throughout the year and across PGA TOUR stops.

In addition to the Official Marketing Partnership, Humana expanded its PGA TOUR relationship with its eight-year tournament sponsorship of the Humana Challenge, in partnership with the William J. Clinton Foundation. Held in La Quinta, CA, the Humana Challenge focuses on healthy living and health-related issues in a multitude of ways, including the Health Mattersconference hosted by President Clinton. The second Humana Challenge PGA TOUR event begins later this week, on Thursday January 17.

Just last week, Humana also announced a partnership with golf icon Gary Player to promote lifelong well-being and healthy living through proper diet and exercise, as well as plans to help address the increasing challenges of childhood obesity. As part of the partnership, Player will serve as a well-being ambassador for Humana.

“We are excited to extend our great partnership with the PGA TOUR and to continue to inspire golf fans across the country to take a more active role in their health,” said Bruce Broussard, President and CEO of Humana. “Since 2005 we have forged a relationship with the PGA TOUR that demonstrates the important connection between golf and health. It is with this same vision that we chose to sponsor the Humana Challenge, which is all about ‘well-being … with a side of golf.”

“Through our longstanding marketing relationship and now its title sponsorship of the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, Humana plays a critical role in the PGA TOUR’s ever-expanding focus on health and well-being,” said Tom Wade, PGA TOUR Chief Marketing Officer. “From the Walkit program and Humana Well-Being Tour, to the extensive activities in and around the Humana Challenge, Humana has been highly creative in promoting personal wellness in a fun way which engages our fans. We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with Humana.”

British No.1 women’s Tennis player, Heather Watson has inked an endorsement agreement with beauty company Benefit Cosmetics.

The deal, brokered by IMG Tennis, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, saw the 20-year-old sport the Benefit Cosmetics logo in Melbourne Park for the first time.

Ben Crandell of IMG Tennis, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce Benefit Cosmetics to the sporting arena and a global tennis market.  There is an excellent synergy between Heather and Benefit Cosmetics and we very much look forward to working with such a creative team.” 

Ian Marshall, Managing Director of Benefit Cosmetics, said: “It is true to say that there hasn’t been a plethora of success in UK women’s tennis in the past 20 years. Benefit Cosmetics are therefore very excited and delighted to be working closely with the UK’s most exciting tennis star in a generation – Heather Watson.

“In addition to her inimitable skill, we love the fact that Heather has such a warm, sunny personality – she’s a girl with great ambitions and a very grounded approach. We look forward to working closely with Heather and the IMG team, hopefully adding a touch of pink Benefit magic to Heather’s campaign.”

Heather, who became the first British woman to win a WTA Tour singles title in 24 years when she won the HP Open in Osaka, Japan, in October last year, said: “Benefit Cosmetics are a really cool, fun brand and I have been a huge fan of their products for a long time. I have been using a number of their products for years and I’m very excited to be partnering with them.”

The reigning Stanley Cup Champions, Los Angeles Kings announced that McDonald’s will serve as the first-ever season presenting sponsor for the Club during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. 

McDonald’s has been associated with both the team and STAPLESCenter as a Founding Partner for fourteen years, but this off-season the Southern California McDonald’s Franchisee’s agreed to significantly increase its presence with the team. 

As a part of this partnership, McDonald’s will be integrated into all facets of the Kings organization.  Amongst the highlights and beginning today, the Kings will proudly showcase a new joint logo integrating the blue chip brand with the Kings shield.  This Joint Logo will be featured prominently in all the Kings marketing and promotional efforts as well as in-arena, on-line and throughout the community. 

“McDonald’s has been a great long time supporter of the Kings and we are very excited to extend and enhance our relationship with them,” said Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille.  “Our brands side by side look incredible and we have such admiration and respect for the McDonald’s franchisee’s and their agency Davis Elen, that it seems to be a perfect match.”

The Kings kicked off this multi-year partnership today with the inaugural McDonald’s Day.  Members of the Kings Ice Crew and Street Team visited local McDonald’s locations today raffling Kings memorabilia including mini Stanley Cups to Kings fans and with McDonald’s food products deliveries to local TV and radio station personnel.

In addition, as a part of this newly expanded partnership, McDonald’s will be the Presenting Sponsor of the opening night banner giveaway, receive logo placement on the Kings practice jerseys and press backdrops, receive integration into club’s annual Legends Series, present the Player of the Month fan voting platform and be integrated into a wide variety of community and grassroots events.

Said AEG Global Partnerships SVP Bill Pedigo: “Winning The Cup has certainly given our organization the opportunity to deliver greater results for our partners on new and unique platforms.  This expanded partnership with McDonald’s is a prime example of that and will certainly play a significant role in the future success of the team on and off the ice.”

“McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Southern California have had a long and treasured relationship with the Los Angeles Kings, culminating with their most memorable march through last season all the way to the Stanley Cup,” said Mike Mangione, President, McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California.

“We’re happy this season has been saved, and look forward to our Stanley Cup Champion Kings taking the ice on the 19^th, to a winning season, and to a continuing partnership in the future.”