Stanford golfer, US Open qualifier Barclay Brown signs with WME Sports for representation

Barclay Brown is the latest athlete to join the movement of future professional stars signing representation while in college.

The Stanford golfer is ranked 46th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. After finishing fourth at the NCAA Championship in stroke competition last month, he has brought on WME Sports for NIL representation. He announced the decision on Instagram.

A division of Endeavor, WME has a long list of clientele in tennis and golf through IMG. It has built a strong roster of NIL talent, highlighted by LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and LSU defensive end Harold Perkins. Dunne has been an NIL success story, signing endorsement deals with American Eagle, Body Armor, Forever 21 and Vuori Clothing.

WME has invested time and dollars into NIL, forming a team to locate and facilitate partnerships for its college athletes. The team is led up by Garrett Yaralian and Jason Rosenberg.

Brown, who is from England, is a two-time All-Pac 12 second-team selection. He is one of 19 amateurs who will be competing at this week’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. One of four Cardinal golfers who have qualified for the Major championship, he qualified for his first U.S. Open by shooting 10-under-par 132 at Los Angeles’ Hillcrest Country Club earlier this month.

He shot a 4-under 68 in the first round of last year’s British Open on the Old Course and made the cut. A PING All-America honorable mention this season, he was a member of the 2021 Walker Cup team, which the United States, and Great Britain and Ireland compete for.

Building out Barclay Brown’s NIL brand

WME can start building out Brown’s portfolio of NIL deals for his professional career. Former Stanford golfer Rose Zhang, who debuted earlier this month on the LPGA, is sponsored by adidas; she initially signed with the brand back in May 2022.

Former Texas A&M golfer Sam Bennett finished tied for 16th at The Masters this spring, shooting 2 under. Before eventually turning pro, he had endorsement agreements with Ping, Veritx Community Bank, Suncast and Aggieland Golf Cars.

Now a pro, he entered into a long-term deal with Ping. The connection had already been established during his days playing for the Aggies. Brown could be looking at a similar situation, especially with a strong performance later this week in Los Angeles.