(Londonderry, New Hampshire) – Renowned Danish shoemaker ECCO confirms that staff player Fred Couples wore its distinctive, street-inspired Casual Cool II GTX golf shoes en route to capturing his second-straight Champions Tour title at the Toshiba Classic, contested this past weekend at California’s Newport Beach Country Club.
Displaying the ECCO logo on his headwear, Couples finished at 18-under-par 195 to win his second title of the season by four strokes. Relying on the brand’s unique combination of premium comfort, maximum stability and superior weather resistance, Couples is now 56-under-par after 162 holes played on the Champions Tour.
“In a good way I am full of confidence in my game,” says Couples. “I talked to Jay Haas a long time ago and when you are 50 you are the youngest guy out here and if you are a good player like I think I am, I thought I would have some opportunities to win out here.”
Couples has been red-hot since the start of the season, claiming The ACE Group Classic on February 14 and finishing runner-up at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship. Along the way, he’s also competed in the ECCO Golf Street Premier, a trend-setting hybrid sport-casual shoe designed to be worn both on and off the course.
“Fred is one of the game’s best stories so far this season,” says Jesper Thuen, Sponsor and Event Manager, ECCO Golf. “He’s added a tremendous amount of excitement and energy to every event he’s played and created a tremendous amount of buzz for our street-inspired golf shoe styles.”
In addition to Couples, ECCO golf shoes are worn in competition by scores of international Tour stars, including Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby, Thongchai Jaidee, Arjun Atwal, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and many others.
Coinciding with the 2010 golf collection, ECCO has engaged in a series of major account and customer service initiatives. These include a supporting partnership of the PGA of America Golf Retirement Plus program, a new ECCO Golf Comfort Tech Van, a web-based retailer training module and the brand’s status as an official member of the Association of Golf Merchandisers.
Guaranteeing a level of quality that cannot be matched by any major footwear manufacturer, each ECCO golf shoe is made using a proprietary, direct-injection process. Touched by more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during production, each model is a testament to the brand’s unrivalled attention to detail that helps discerning players look, feel and play their best.
All ECCO golf shoes feature a network of built-in technologies to create the ideal platform for the perfect swing. These include a direct-injected, PU-constructed midsole/outsole that:
* Creates a one-piece shoe construction
* Ensures unrivaled durability, flexibility, lightness and weather resistance
* Provides a superior level of cushioning and comfort that does not break down over time, unlike commonly-used materials such as air, rubber and EVA foam
Optimal performance is further guaranteed by:
* Ultra-soft, high-grade leathers with hydrophobic treatments for superb weather-resistance
* Internal stabilizer to reduce torque and create ideal swing stability
* Double-layer insole with cushion that absorbs heel force to reduce stress on the knees, hips and back
* Internal Air-Circulation System to maintain a fresh, dry and cool foot environment
* Dynamic Energy Return System that provides a trampoline effect during foot-strike and follow-through to reduce fatigue and restore energy with each step
* Green-friendly outsole designs featuring molded traction bars combined with Stinger cleats from Champ and the Q-Lok insert system to provide ideal traction and grip
About ECCO
ECCO is a world leading brand with fashionable comfort quality shoes.
Founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy, ECCO is the only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage the entire value chain from cow to consumer. ECCO has more than 15,000 employees, direct subsidiaries in Europe, the Far East and North America, and partners worldwide.
Based on ECCO’s many years of tradition in shoemaking, ECCO delivers uncompromising comfort and design and the products are sold in more than 3,800 shops all over the world. In 2008, ECCO sold over 17.5 million pair of shoes and reached a turnover of DKK 5.4 billion. However, ECCO’s aim has never been to be the biggest — but always to be the best.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226.
Contact:
David Griffith
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3391
dgriffith@buffalocommunications.com
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