Nike Golf Continues to Command PGA Tour Dominance
BEAVERTON, Ore. (August 28, 2006) – Coming down the stretch at the Bridgestone Invitational, one thing was for certain, PGA Tour dominance is still being commanded by Nike Golf. The Nike Swoosh, SQ and One ball logos were front and center with Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink and Paul Casey, all members of the Nike Golf Tour Staff, making up the final group. But it was Woods who prevailed after battling it out in a four-hole sudden-death playoff against Cink, bringing to 12 the number of PGA Tour wins by Nike Golf Tour staff members in 2006.
It was Woods’ 52nd PGA Tour career victory, his fifth Bridgestone Invitational title and his fourth win in consecutive starts, with two of those four being major titles. Woods and Cink both parred the first three playoff holes, with Tiger executing an amazing par save on the first playoff hole to stay alive. On the fourth playoff hole in the pouring rain, Woods sank a six-foot birdie putt to seal his sixth PGA Tour win this season.
Woods averaged 333-yard drives using the winningest driver on the PGA Tour, Nike Golf’s SasQuatch Driver. Using his Nike Blades, Woods executed the shots when he needed to and completed the tournament with a 68.1% average in greens hit in regulation. Accompanying his SasQuatch Driver and Nike Forged Blades in his bag were his Ignite 15-degree fairway wood (T60), 19-degree 5-wood and his 56 and 60-degree Nike wedges. Woods also wore Nike Golf apparel from the Tiger Woods Collection, the new Nike SP 8 TW Tour footwear and his Dri-FIT Tour glove.
For his booming drives and control around the greens, Woods used the Nike One Platinum ball, which also helped lead Woods’ fellow Nike Golf Tour Staff members Rory Sabbatini, Stephen Ames, Chris Couch, Carl Pettersson and Trevor Immelman to each of their victories earlier this year. Combined, the Nike One Platinum ball has won 11 times on the PGA Tour in 2006.
Cink, who has just been named to the U.S. Ryder Cup team by captain Tom Lehman, pushed Tiger until the very end. He also used the SasQuatch Driver and averaged just over 300-yard drives with the winning stick and the combination of the Nike One Black ball. Completing Cink’s bag were his Nike Pro Combo OS irons, Nike 15-degree SasQuatch Fairway Wood, Nike Golf’s 18-degree Slingshot Hybrid, a Pro Combo 54-degree wedge and 60-degree Nike SV wedge.
Casey, who began the final round tied for the lead, finished tied for fourth after shooting a one-under-par round of 71. Casey once again used Nike Golf’s new putter, the Unitized Putter, due in stores this fall.
In addition to leading the PGA Tour in driver wins, Nike Golf also leads in irons, fairway woods and wedge wins.
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 12 PGA Tour victories and 57 top-10 finishes, as well as one victory on the Nationwide Tour. 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
