Professionals Use Company’s Shaft Models to Post Impressive Finishes
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design – maker of some of the most widely played high-performance shafts on the PGA TOUR – drove five top-10 finishers at The Players Championship as well as the winners on the LPGA and Japan tours, while claiming a model count victory on the Nationwide Tour, according to the Darrell Survey.
At The Players Championship, professionals using Graphite Design shaft models crowded the top of the leaderboard at the difficult TPC Sawgrass course. The third- and fourth-place finishers played Graphite Design’s Pershing and YS-6 models in their drivers. A sixth-place finisher and a pair of golfers tying for 10th also played Graphite Design models to negotiate the course’s tight, wind-blown confines.
The winner of the LPGA’s Michelob Ultra Open claimed her third victory of the season, and 72nd of her career, while playing Graphite Design’s Tour AD PT-6 model in her driver. En route to her seven-shot triumph, she hit 49 of 56 fairways – nearly 88 percent. In four starts since switching from another brand’s shaft to the Tour AD PT-6 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, she has a pair of victories and a second-place finish.
On the Nationwide Tour, Graphite Design’s YS-Hybrid 85 shaft topped the graphite hybrid shaft model count with 10 in play. The YS-Hybrid 85 has claimed a combined 12 model counts on the Nationwide and PGA tours in 2008.
On the Japan Tour, the winner of the Pine Valley Beijin Open was among those using Graphite Design shafts. He was joined by four additional top-four finishers in playing the company’s models.
“It was another great weekend for professionals playing Graphite Design shafts,” said Tim Gillis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Graphite Design. “When it comes to distance and accuracy, the world’s top golfers know they can rely on our shafts to deliver consistent performance under any conditions. The superior design and construction of Graphite Design products translates to better performance for players across the handicap spectrum.”
Graphite Design recently unveiled its newest premium shaft model, the Tour AD YSQ, to rave reviews from OEM representatives, customers and media. The Tour AD YSQ features advanced Axial Composite Interlace (ACI) construction, delivering superior performance in four key areas: launch angle, spin rate, accuracy and distance.
The company also launched the Graphite Design Fantasy Golf Tour 2008, where contestants pick their favorites in the PGA TOUR’s five biggest tournaments for a chance to win $100,000. Entering the Graphite Design Fantasy Golf Tour is free and requires only a quick registration via the company’s newly redesigned web site (www.gdintl.com, click on Fantasy Challenge).
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 premium 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
