Following on from the story we carried yesterday about sponsorship activation at the Ryder Cup, another partner is preparing to make its mark on the global stage this weekend is WHOOP, with its European headquarters in Dublin.
The health and fitness analysis band is the Official Health and Fitness Wearable of the Ryder Cup, and is bringing the science of elite performance directly into the broadcast.
Through WHOOP Live on NBC, viewers will see real-time heart rate and physiological data from players including Justin Thomas, Tyrrell Hatton, and Ben Griffin, as well as captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald. For the first time, fans will witness the stress, composure, and intensity of golf’s most pressurised moments as they unfold.
“The Ryder Cup is the ultimate arena for pressure, rivalry, and performance at the highest level,” said John Sullivan, Chief Marketing Officer at WHOOP.
“This is where WHOOP shines: helping athletes understand how to prepare, recover, and perform, while giving fans unparalleled insight into what it truly takes to compete when everything is on the line.”
The brand has launched a multi-channel campaign surrounding the Ryder Cup, encompassing social media, brand media placements, press initiatives, and strategic partnerships.
“The Ryder Cup continually delivers unmatched energy and drama on golf’s biggest stage, and WHOOP will now give spectators a front row seat to the science of elite performance,” said Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer of the PGA of America.
Richard Atkinson, Chief Ryder Cup Officer at Ryder Cup Europe, added: “Golf is an incredibly data rich sport, and this new partnership with WHOOP will provide fans with new and unprecedented insights into how the world’s best players manage the demands of playing in golf’s greatest team contest.”
The partnership builds on WHOOP’s growing presence in golf. The company already works with stars including Rory McIlroy, a long-time user and investor, as well as Justin Thomas and sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda.
WHOOP also backs its wearable technology with research: a recent study of 389 professional golfers across 521 tournaments showed that higher recovery scores and greater sleep consistency translated to fewer poor shots and more strokes gained both tee-to-green and on the green.
For Ireland, WHOOP’s involvement carries an additional dimension. With its European base in Dublin, the company is part of the growing cluster of performance, data, and technology businesses choosing Ireland as a hub.
Watch out in the coming weeks for a series of Sport for Business podcast interviews with some of these leading companies, starting out next Tuesday with Stephen smith, Founder of Kitman Labs.
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