Ernie’s FT Tour driver and Tour i(s) ball continue sizzling debut on PGA Tour as Augusta looms
CARLSBAD, Calif, March 30, 2010 – Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) staff professional Ernie Els claimed his second PGA Tour win of the season on Monday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando. On his way to victory, Els employed Callaway’s new FT Tour Driver, which arrived at retail this month amid an incredible four-tournament winning streak on the PGA Tour, as well as Callaway’s new Tour i(s) Golf Ball.
Els won with the FT Tour Driver two weeks ago at the WGC-CA Championship at Doral and notched another win with it this week at Bay Hill. He has credited the Tour i(s) Golf Ball for his improved short-game in 2010. This season, Els is #1 in scoring average, at 68.88. In 2009, his scoring average was 70.21, 28th on Tour.
“I made hard work of it, but that new Callaway Tour i(s) ball really turned around my short game,” Els said. “I was able to get it up and down, and that was what won the tournament for me.”
Callaway’s new FT Tour Driver features a 440 cc multi-material clubhead with a full-length hosel and a slightly open face angle to deliver the look at address preferred by highly skilled players. FT Tour’s design combines an ultra lightweight carbon composite body that delivers extraordinary accuracy and workability, with a titanium Hyperbolic clubface that yields incredible ball speeds and increased distance. Originally introduced on the professional tours in 2009 as FT-9 Tour Authentic, the tremendous excitement that was buzzing among the world’s best players convinced Callaway officials to commercialize the product in 2010 as FT Tour. Els’ first-place finish at Bay Hill is the fifth of this young 2010 season for Callaway’s FT Tour Driver, which also tasted victory at Mayakoba, Doral, Puerto Rico and Tampa. The FT Tour Driver features a new product introduction retail price of $399.
The Callaway Tour i(s) ball features second-generation Dual Core that delivers outstanding spin separation for lower driver spin off the tee and higher spin within striking distance of the pin. The result is optimized performance throughout the round. Tour i(s)’ advanced HEX Aerodynamics delivers a penetrating ball flight in all wind conditions. Now available at retail, Callaway’s Tour i(s) golf balls feature a new product introduction retail price of $42.99 a dozen.
High-resolution images of all Callaway Golf products are available for immediate download via the Media Center portion of Callaway Golf’s website: www.callawaygolf.com/Global/en-US/MediaCenter.html.
About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf®, Odyssey®, Top-Flite®, and Ben Hogan® brands in more than 110 countries worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com or shop.callawaygolf.com.
Contact:
Tim Buckman
Sr. Director, Global Communications
Callaway Golf
2180 Rutherford Rd
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(O) 760-804-4133
(E) Tim.Buckman@CallawayGolf.com
