BEAVERTON, Ore. (February 6, 2006) – After taking a six-week break, turning 30, and switching to the new Nike Golf SasQuatch driver, Woods has begun his new season in champion style. Woods has emerged victorious in his first two 2006 events, using the combination of the SasQuatch driver and Nike’s One Platinum ball.
Despite having taken the longest break of his career prior to the start of the season, his indomitable spirit has prevailed as evidenced by his consecutive winning performances on two continents. Both wins have come in sudden death playoffs, at the PGA Tour’s Buick Invitational in San Diego and last week’s European PGA Tour event, the Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai.
In both events, Woods capitalized on opportunities by mastering clutch shots with his successful arsenal of Nike Golf equipment, including his Ignite T60 3-wood, Nike Forged Blades and 56 and 60-degree TW wedges. In Tiger-like fashion, he lingered behind the leaders and dug down deep by producing shots and making critical putts in the final round positioning himself in a playoff situation and ultimately winning.
"I hung in there just like I did last week," said Woods of his performance at Dubai. "I stayed around and made some key putts and some key saves and hit some crucial shots that allowed me to get into a playoff both times. It’s a pretty good feeling when you’re able to do that and turn things around like that."
In the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, Woods knew he had to birdie the last two holes to at least get him into a playoff with Ernie Els or Richard Green. The brilliant geometry of the SasQuatch driver with its high moment of inertia assisted Woods in making his move on the leaders. On the 359-yard par-4 17th, Woods drove the green and two-putted for birdie to improve his position to a one-stroke deficit behind the leaders with one hole to go. On the par-5 18th hole, Woods hit his second shot to the back of the green and got up and down for birdie to put himself into a sudden-death playoff with Els. On the playoff hole, Els struggled while Woods made a par for the win.
Woods has won 57 times worldwide, with 47 of those titles coming on the PGA Tour.
The award-winning SasQuatch driver, which hit stores in November of 2005, already has won four PGA Tour events, two in 2005 (Carl Pettersson – Chrysler Championship; K.J. Choi – Chrysler Classic Greensboro Open) and two in 2006 (Chad Campbell – Bob Hope Chrysler Classic; Tiger Woods – Buick Invitational). Woods’ win at the Dubai Desert Classic marks the first international victory for the SasQuatch this season and eight worldwide since its introduction.
Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honoring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. In 2005, Nike Golf’s Tour Staff accumulated 11 PGA Tour victories and 34 top-10 finishes. In 2006, Nike Golf’s Tour Staff has accumulated two PGA Tour victories in just five events. For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nikegolf.com. Editors and journalists in the U.S. seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter. For international journalists, please contact Nike Golf’s public relations representative in respective countries for information.
Contact:
Beth Gast – Nike Golf
(503) 532-8852
Beth.Gast@nike.com
