Further Reinforces Banner Season So Far for Nike Golf Athletes
BEAVERTON, Ore. (April 10, 2006) – Nike Golf led The Masters field iron count for the second year in a row, according to the Darrell Survey. A total of 15 PGA Tour professionals teed it up using the constant innovation of Nike Golf’s irons at one of golf’s most prestigious events and the PGA Tour’s first major championship of the season.
Nike Golf athletes took three of the top-10 spots this weekend. This brings to 24 the number of top-10 finishes for Nike Golf on the PGA Tour so far this season, including five victories. This dominant form has resulted in Nike Golf leading the PGA Tour in iron wins, most driver wins with the SasQuatch driver, and most wedge wins. Nike Golf’s leading irons include the Blade, Pro Combo OS and Tour as well as the NDS Irons.
The Nike Golf staff players included in winning The Masters iron count are: Stephen Ames, Chad Campbell, KJ Choi, Stewart Cink, Charles Coody, David Duval, Raymond Floyd, Trevor Immelman, Shingo Katayama, Justin Leonard, Sandy Lyle, Carl Pettersson, Rory Sabbatini, Craig Stadler, and Tiger Woods. Ames, Campbell, Cink, Katayama, Leonard, Pettersson, Sabbatini, and Woods made the cut and Coody, at the age of 68, posted an impressive 74 in the second round to almost become the oldest player to shoot even par.
Just four years ago, Nike Golf introduced its first set of irons as a golf company. The Nike Forged Blade Irons that debuted at the 2002 PGA Merchandise Show remain in the line and were played last week by Woods, Leonard, Lyle and Coody.
In the fall of 2002, Nike Golf, with the help of design input from Duval, introduced the Forged Pro Combo Irons. This progressive set of irons features forged blade short irons, half-cavity mid-irons and full-cavity long irons, similarly to the way many professionals have mixed their bags of clubs over the years. Last week, Ames, Campbell, Duval, Stadler, Choi and Pettersson used Nike Golf’s Pro Combo irons to tackle the challenges of Augusta National.
Cink, Immelman, Katayama and Floyd used the Pro Combo OS irons, which provide exceptional feel and forgiveness in a forged iron and Sabbatini used the NDS irons, which incorporate a simple notch weight progression system based on the same manipulation of center of gravity that has made Nike Golf’s Slingshot franchise so successful.
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 2006, Nike Golf’s Tour Staff has accumulated five PGA Tour victories and 24 top-10 finishes. 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
