Company?s YS-8.1 Shaft Model Helped Champ Claim Second PGA TOUR Title
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design – maker of some of the most widely played graphite driver, fairway wood and hybrid shaft models on the PGA TOUR – powered the winner’s 3-wood in the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, according to the Darrell Survey.
In claiming his second PGA TOUR title, the winner used Graphite Design’s YS-8.1 shaft in his 3-wood en route to a final round of 7-under-par 66, followed by a playoff victory. He also played Graphite Design’s YS-8.1 model in winning his first career event, the 2007 Ginn Sur Mer Classic at Tesoro. The Mercedes-Benz Championship field is comprised of tournament winners from 2007, battling the tricky winds and slopes of the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
“We congratulate the Mercedes-Benz champion on his outstanding play and are proud to have played a role,” said Tim Gillis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Graphite Design. “Our shafts’ playability, distance and accuracy have made them a favorite of world-class touring pros, and we’re excited that the 2008 season has started with a winner using a Graphite Design model.”
Graphite Design will unveil its newest premium shaft model, the Tour AD YSQ, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, January 17-19. The Tour AD YSQ features advanced Axial Composite Interlace construction, delivering superior performance in four key areas: launch angle, spin rate, accuracy and distance.
In 2007, Graphite Design shaft models propelled professionals to a combined 45 victories on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions,Japan and LPGA tours. Among those relying on Graphite Design shafts were the world’s No. 3-ranked men’s player, the No. 4 women’s player, the winner of the Champions Tour’s Charles Schwab Cup points title, and seven of the top eight money earners on the Japan Tour. Graphite Design reinforced its dominance on the Japan Tour, where it has claimed 158 consecutive graphite wood shaft brand counts — an unprecedented streak which dates to 2002. On the PGA TOUR, Graphite Design shafts have helped professionals earn 54 victories and more than $290 million since 2004.
Graphite Design is the graphite shaftmaker of choice for Hank Haney, coach to the world’s top-ranked player. In 2007 the company introduced the Tour AD Quattro Tech ultra-premium shaft in the U.S. and launched its G-TECH combination-flex custom clubmaker series of wood and iron shafts, designed for exceptional playability throughout the bag.
About Graphite Design
Graphite Design, established in Japan in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1997, is the industry leader in shaft technology and the preferred brand for golf professionals worldwide. One of the world’s three largest golf-club shaft manufacturers, the company made its mark manufacturing high-performance shafts for most of golf’s major OEMs, including the top four companies by sales volume. Graphite Design shafts continue to be preferred by top clubmakers the world over while the company’s mainstay YS shafts, Pershing shafts and other models are extremely popular among avid and occasional golfers.
Revolutionary technology, design and sourcing the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, making them the highest quality performance shafts on the market. Validating the company’s “AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s PGA Tour-proven shafts specifically promote “Accuracy and Distance” and these key competitive advantages are helping professional and amateur golfers optimize their games after switching to Graphite Design shafts.
For more information about Graphite Design: 888.707.6132, info@gdintl.com; www.gdintl.com.
Contact:
Daniel Mitchell
Buffalo Communications
253.312.4536
dmitchell@billycaspergolf.com
