Nike Golf’s Charl Schwartzel Wins the European Tour’s Masters Madrid Tournament with Victory Red Forged TW Blades
Just in time for Nike’s new Victory Red (VR) irons to hit the market on November 1, the Tour-inspired irons have already proven that the irons are in fact synonymous with “victory” – proven by Nike Golf athlete Charl Schwartzel’s win at the European Tour’s Masters Madrid tournament. Schwartzel’s win is the second with Nike’s new VR irons following Nike Golf athlete Toyokazu Fujishima, who won with the VR Forged Split Cavity irons at the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour.
“I am really pleased to have won here in Madrid,” said Schwartzel. “I have had a good season and this victory really tops things off for me. I switched to the new VR Forged TW Blades only three weeks ago and the results speak for themselves. The irons offer me extra distance, excellent control and they feel consistent throughout the bag.”
Since switching to Nike’s new VR irons three weeks ago, Schwartzel has finished tied for fifth, tied for 13th and last week secured his third European Tour title.
With the combination of his new Nike VR Forged TW blades and ONE Black ball, and his impressive display of pin-seeking iron shots, Schwartzel was second in greens in regulation averaging 80.6% for the tournament. The blades feature a more traditional muscle back design that includes a conspicuous and recognizable “TW” mark. Made of 1025 Forged Carbon Steel with a CNC milled face, the Victory Red Forged TW Blades differentiate from Nike’s original Blades with a more modified backpad and a slightly thicker toe.
Schwartzel’s Nike Golf Arsenal
· Driver: Nike SQ SUMO 5000
· Irons: Nike Victory Red (VR) Forged TW Blades
· Wedges: Nike SV Tour 54 and 60-degree
· Putter: Nike Prototype Putter
· Ball: Nike ONE Black
· Footwear: SP 8 TW Tour Footwear
· Apparel: Nike Golf’s Dri-FIT apparel
On the U.S. PGA Tour
At the Texas Open, five Nike Golf athletes put the Victory Red irons in play on the PGA Tour for the first time:
– Stephen Ames – VR Forged TW Blades – 3-PW
– David Duval – VR Forged TW Blades – 3-PW
– Richard Johnson – VR Split Cavity – 2-PW
– Justin Leonard – VR Forged TW Blades – 4-PW
– Ron Whittaker – VR Split Cavity – 4 – PW
Ames, who finished tied for sixth, shot 68, 71, 66 and 62. Ames also finished tied for 10th in Greens in Regulation. Leonard posted scores of 70, 69, 64 and 66 using the VR irons.
Nike Golf’s 2008 PGA Tour Victories
· Tiger Woods – Buick Invitational
· K.J. Choi – Sony Open
· Tiger Woods – World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship
· Tiger Woods – Arnold Palmer Invitational
· Trevor Immelman – The Masters
· Anthony Kim – The Wachovia Championship
· Justin Leonard – The Stanford St. Jude Championship
· Tiger Woods – U.S. Open
· Stewart Cink – Travelers Championship
· Anthony Kim – AT&T National
· Carl Pettersson – Wyndam Championship
Nike Golf’s 2008 International Victories
· Tiger Woods – Dubai Desert Classic
· Richard Finch – New Zealand Open
· KJ Choi – SK Telecom
· Shingo Katayama – Japan Pro Championship
· Richard Finch – Irish Open
· Suzann Pettersen – Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open
· Suzann Pettersen – AIB Irish Open
· Toyokazu Fujishima – Fujisankei Classic
· Charl Schwartzel – Masters Madrid
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 2008, Nike Golf has 11 PGA Tour wins and 60 top-10 finishes and nine international victories. In 2007, Nike Golf had 13 PGA Tour wins, seven Nationwide Tour victories and eight international titles. For the last two years, Nike Golf has led the PGA Tour in driver, fairway woods and iron wins. 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.
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