ATLANTA — January 3, 2006 Great champions are defined by great achievements, great character and the respect of their fellow competitors. In a sport like golf, where there exists a razor thin edge between success and failure, a player must have absolute and total trust in everything they do, particularly the equipment they use – their tools of the trade. It is but one part of the formula that instills the confidence that separates the great ones from the rest of the pack.
And Jim Furyk has most certainly separated himself. As the 2003 U.S. Open Champion, 10-time tour winner, 8-time Ryder Cup/President’s Cup team member and one of the top 10 players in the world, he is as tough a competitor as there is in golf. His game has always been defined by pinpoint precision and wizardry around the hole. Players like Furyk can never afford to take their equipment lightly.
That’s why Srixon Sports USA, one of the foremost technology leaders in golf, today proudly announces a new partnership with Jim Furyk in which Furyk will play Srixon’s new Z-UR prototype golf ball and forged wedges and is currently working with Srixon’s club designers on a new set of forged irons. Additionally, Furyk will wear the company’s hat and glove and carry its signature red golf bag. Furyk will also be instrumental in helping the company develop future generations of product.
"My game is predicated on knowing exactly how far my golf ball flies, how it feels, and how it reacts around the green," said Furyk. "The first time I tested the Srixon golf ball, I knew right then that this was a company that could help me be a better player. Quite often, to get this type of control in a golf ball, you have to give up distance. But with the Srixon ball, I was amazed to see that not only did I not have to give up distance, but I could actually gain yards off the tee. All while making the ball do with my irons, what I expect of it. I can’t ask for more out of my equipment," said Furyk.
"This is one of the most important events in the evolution of the company," said Richard Stamper, President and COO of Srixon Sports USA. "Jim will help make us better along many different dimensions. As a brand ambassador, Jim is extremely credible with the consumer and very well respected amongst his peers. A brand like Srixon needs visibility when it counts – which is, a tour player playing well enough to be on TV on the weekend wearing your logo. With over 80 top 10’s in the last 8 years, Jim certainly will provide the type of real exposure no amount of advertising could surpass. As a demanding technician with an extremely discerning eye, he will help us in the development of future clubs and balls," added Stamper.
"I look at this as a real working partnership with a company that is an acknowledged technical leader in golf, with a great legacy and history of success in the game," said Furyk. "Their technical capability is simply incredible. I think the collaboration aspect of this relationship will be extremely beneficial for both of us. I think I can offer a lot of feedback and insight into product design and performance from a player standpoint, and the engineers and scientists at Srixon can optimize and enhance my performance through their scientific expertise," added Furyk.
"Jim is most definitely a statement player for any brand, especially a brand like Srixon," said Michael Pai, Srixon’s Vice President of Marketing and Tour. "We rely on the visibility provided by our Tour staff to raise awareness and compete with our larger competitors. We consider tour performance and TV visibility on the weekend a very pure form of endorsement. TV commercials are great but when a consumer sees a tour player coming down the stretch playing our balls and clubs, there can be no argument as to the trust the player has in our brand," added Pai.
"I’m entering the prime of my career. I can’t wait for the season to start because with the equipment I’ve got in my bag right now, my best golf is most definitely ahead of me," added Furyk.
About SRI Sports (Kobe, Hyogo, Japan)
SRIXON Sports USA, Inc., based in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997 and is a subsidiary of SRI Sports Limited. SRI Sports Limited is the number one golf club manufacturer in the world’s second largest market, Japan, and is one of the world’s leading patent holders in golf ball technology. SRIXON golf balls earned 31 tournament victories on multiple professional tours around the world in 2005. For more information about SRIXON please visit www.srixon.com.
Contact:
Heidi B. Sheehan
201.854.6877
heidibianchi7@msn.com
Mike Pai
678.518.5121
mike@srixon.com
