Nike Golf Leads Tour in Driver, Fairway Woods, and Iron Wins
BEAVERTON, Ore. (May 1, 2006) – Nike Golf Tour Staff member Chris Couch won his first PGA Tour victory in a most dramatic fashion at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, making his 33rd birthday today all the more special. His victory catapulted him from 209th on the PGA Tour money list to 24th. His win highlighted a victorious weekend on each side of the Pacific for Nike Golf, as Couch’s fellow Nike staff member Shingo Katayama won at The Crown’s event in Japan.
Couch’s week in New Orleans could be characterized in three words, "never give up." Proof positive of this notion was his rally from his 36-hole position of last place after barely making the cut, to the ultimate victory. Further evidence of his "never give up" approach was his performance on the 17th and 18th holes in the final round. On the 17th he sank a critical putt for bogey to hold onto a one-stroke lead. On the final hole, he chipped in for par with his Nike SV Wedge and Nike One Platinum ball to secure his first PGA Tour triumph and sixth for Nike Golf.
"It just goes to show, you are never out of it," Couch said following his victory. The comeback champion of this weekend on the PGA Tour is no stranger to winning. Couch is a five-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, where he currently is the all-time money leader with almost $1 million in earnings.
Having averaged 315 yards off the tee in the third round and 300 yards for the week, Couch benefited from the combination of the Nike SasQuatch’s brilliant geometry and the Nike One Platinum ball’s distance and spin control. Even more vital to his win, were his precision shots into the greens with his Nike Golf Pro Combo OS irons, which gave him a 79.2% rate and number one ranking in greens in regulation. Completing Couch’s winning arsenal are his 15 and 19-degree SasQuatch Fairway Woods, 21-degree Slingshot Hybrid, and his 54 and 60-degree Nike SV Wedges. Couch also wears Nike Golf apparel, Nike SP-6 footwear and the Nike Tour Feel Glove.
The outstanding winning combination of the SasQuatch Driver and Nike One Platinum ball continues to dominate the 2006 season with six PGA Tour wins, one on The Nationwide Tour. As a result of these great performances, Nike Golf’s SasQuatch Driver and irons continue to lead the PGA Tour in wins with six. Couch’s win advances Nike Golf’s Fairway Woods into a tie for the lead in wins on Tour with five. The Nike One balls have won five times in 2006.
Nike Golf’s success in the U.S. is being mirrored on a global scale. Katayama’s victory in Japan this weekend brings to nine the number of global wins by Nike Golf athletes. En route to his win, Katayama used a Nike Ignite Driver, a 17-degree SasQuatch Fairway Wood, 21-degree Nike Slingshot Hybrid, Nike Pro Combo OS irons and the Nike One Black ball. Katayama also sports Nike Golf apparel and footwear.
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 PGA Tour Staff has accumulated six PGA Tour victories and 23 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
