How LPGA Golfer Alexa Pano managed to become the first golfer to be sponsored by $7,000,000,000 NFL Team in 2022
Alexa Pano is the first LPGA Tour player to be sponsored by an NFL team, the New England Patriots in 2022. The American golfer secured a deal with the team, which has a net worth of $7 billion (as per Forbes in 2023), following her success at the junior level. She also had a remarkable start to her professional career.
Pano is undeniably one of the best junior golfers. During her amateur career, she won the 2016 PDQ-Philadelphia Runner Junior, the 2017 Ione D. Jones Doherty Amateur, and the Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship in 2018 and 2019. She also claimed victory at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship in 2019.
Having achieved tremendous success as a junior golfer, she has become the face of the New England Patriots, carrying on the legacy of the NFL team on the greens.
Speaking about her deal with the Patriots in 2022, Pano said (via Patriots.com):
"I am so proud to represent this organization wherever I go. I was shocked at how big of a following the Patriots have everywhere I travel – especially in Alabama where the Q-Series was – because of so many Patriots players being Alabama products," she said.
"The support that I have received from the organization, fans of the Patriots, and even just people who are happy to see this partnership is amazing. I am so proud that I get to carry the Patriots logo around the LPGA tour next year," Pano added.
Alexa Pano turned pro at the age of 18 in 2022 and earned her LPGA Tour card just a year later. After earning her LPGA Tour card by competing in Q-school in 2023, she surged in her rookie year and won her maiden LPGA Tour event at the 2023 ISPS Handa Women’s Invitational.
A look at Alexa Pano's performance in 2024
Alexa Pano began her 2024 LPGA Tour campaign at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, where she finished as the runner-up. She had a strong start to the season but missed the cut at the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship. The American golfer has had a mixed season on the LPGA Tour in 2024.
While she struggled in some tournaments, she also achieved notable finishes. Her best result of the season came at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, with a T17 finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and a T14 at the Portland Classic.
However, Pano missed several cuts this season, including at the T-Mobile Match Play, Mizuho Americas Open, Women’s PGA Championship, and the Evian Championship. She last competed at the Women’s Scottish Open but failed to make the cut.
At this week’s AIG Women’s Open, after three rounds, she is tied for sixth place. Pano will tee off for the final round on Sunday, August 25, four strokes behind the leader, Jiyai Shin.