The folks at a 17-year-old, $6.85-billion-AUM (as of April 30) mutual fund firm are teaming up with a former #1 amateur golfer as she turns pro.

Cole W. Smead Smead Capital management CEO, Portfolio Manager

On Wednesday, Cole Smead, CEO of Smead Capital Management [profile], and Jimmy Johnston, senior vice president of golf at SportFive, revealed that Ingrid Lindblad has partnered with the Phoenix-based asset manager as its newest investor ambassador. The sponsorship deal will go through 2026, matching a deal Lindblad has with another sponsor, a spokesperson for Smead CM confirms.

"It can be extended," the spokesperson adds.

Smead CM is now Lindblad's front-of-hat sponsors. The Swedish golf star graduated last month from Louisiana State University and turned pro this month.

"We will do hospitality at certain tournaments with current and prospective investors to our firm where they will meet the players," a spokesperson for Smead CM tells MFWire.

Cole Smead lauds Lindblad as "one of the premier golfers on the collegiate and amateur levels."

"She will showcase her elite skills on the professional stage in the years ahead," Cole Smead states. "While there are people in Sweden and Louisiana that know Ingrid's talent well, we see her success on a global scale providing an ideal platform to introduce people to the investors of Smead Capital Management. Ingrid's genuine passion for golf is very reflective of who we are as stock market investors for the individuals, advisors, family offices and institutions we advise around the world."

"Her game is as elite as it comes," Johnson states. "Therefore, it made all the sense in the world to have her partner with an elite global investment management firm like Smead Capital Management."

"Like a great stock, you will rarely get to partner with an athlete at the caliber that Ingrid has," a spokesperson for Smead CM writes in an emailed statement. "The only other two players to hold the #1 amateur in the world longer than Ingrid were Rose Zhang and Lydia Ko, who have had great starts to their professional careers. We expect great things from her."

That spokesperson also puts Smead CM's deal with Lindblad in a broader context: supporting the LGPA.

We have learned a lot about the golf world over the last 12 months. The LGPA plays in locations closer to where our investors are. They host events in NY/NJ and Singapore. The PGA USA circuit doesn't go there typically. This gives the LGPA a huge competitive advantage that we think they should/will focus on more. Investors love golf and building wealth. We are using this to make sure everyone know who the investors of Smead Capital Management are.

Lindblad is the second pro golfer sponsored by Smead CM, after the firm partnered with PGA player Chan Kim earlier this year. Smead CM has also sponsored the LGPA Tour's Ford Championship, four PGA tournaments, and a PGA Champions event, and a spokesperson for Smead CM confirms that they will "likely add more" LGPA tour sponsorships in light of their partnership with Lindblad. 

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