Ryder Cup legend brings us crashing down to earth with ancient sponsorship deal

19th hole

Jul 28, 2022

How things have changed! We'll let Ken Brown explain

Oh how times have changed…

While players at the top end of the game have never played for more money – particularly those who have signed up for the LIV Golf payday – Ken Brown was quick to bring us crashing back down to earth with a reality check.

While younger readers will know Brown from his Ken on the Course antics during the BBC’s coverage of the Masters and The Open, those of us of a certain age will remember Brown’s playing days that yielded one PGA Tour title, four European Tour wins, and five Ryder Cup appearances – including Europe’s historic first victory on US soil in 1987.

But things were a bit different back in those days – particularly when it came to sponsorship deals.

Brown took to Twitter to share his Dunlop ball contract from 1975 and, well, just see for yourself…

My Dunlop ball contract from 1975 when I first joined the European Tour.

Now I know why I had a short backswing! ⚠️

We really knew how to LIV in those days! ??. pic.twitter.com/WARktEsPAS
— Ken Brown… ⛳️ (@KenBrownGolf) July 24, 2022

Six golf balls! Per month! During the season! And that became three golf balls per month in the off-season!

How many holes do you think it would take you to get through that?

Stay humble, guys.

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Alex Perry

Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.