CARLSBAD, Calif., May 2, 2010 – Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY) staff professional Alvaro Quiros fulfilled a lifelong dream Sunday and won the Spanish Open, his country’s national title. Clinching on the first hole of a two-man playoff, the long-hitting Spaniard notched his fourth victory on the European Tour and has now won a title in all four years of his intensifying professional career. Several hours later, and more than 4,000 miles away, fellow Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson backed up his recent championship at Augusta with an authoritative final round at the PGA Tour’s Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, finishing the tournament at 11-under-par and in sole possession of second place. Both Quiros and Mickelson employed Callaway FT Drivers, Prototype Irons, Tour i Series Golf Balls and Odyssey Putters-all of which are riding an unprecedented wave of success into next week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
“I think it’s one of the most important things in my life for sure,” Quiros said following his victory in Seville, Spain. “To be the winner of your Open is something really, really great. The most important thing for me today was clearly my Callaway driver. I was hitting all the fairways, even on the 18th playoff hole. It was what made it for me.”
The win by Quiros is the latest success story of the 2010 season for Callaway’s Fusion Driver technology and Tour i Series Golf balls. Already this year, the FT Tour Driver has won seven times on the PGA Tour, while Tour i Series Golf balls have won five times. Among the wins was Phil Mickelson’s inspiring effort at the Masters two week’s earlier.
Quiros used the Callaway FT-5 Driver (a predecessor to the FT Tour) and the Tour i(z) Golf Ball. He also used a Tour 15-degree X Fairway Wood, X-Prototype Irons, Vintage X-Forged Wedges (52, 58 and 60 degrees) and the Odyssey Black Series i #1 Putter. Quiros was dressed head-to-toe in Callaway apparel, including an X-Series shirt sporting a pronounced Chevron.
The record books may show a history of green jacket winners that struggle to regain their form in the events that follow the year’s first Major tournament, but Mickelson defied such predictions and picked up right where he left off. In fact, if not for a magnificent, course-record closing round by the tournament’s winner, Mickelson would have been hoisting a trophy yet again.
“It was great for me to get back into contention right out of Augusta with no letdown,” said Mickelson after his final round 68 on Sunday at Quail Hollow. Turning his attention to next week’s Players Championship, he added, “The Players is really a big event, one where we all look to play well, and fortunately my game is very close.”
Mickelson used the Callaway FT Tour Driver (7.5 degree), a Big Bertha Diablo Fairway Wood (15 degrees), a Callaway Prototype Hybrid (22 degrees), an X-Forged 4-iron, X-Prototype Irons (5-PW), JAWS Wedges (53, 60 and 64 degrees), the Tour ix Golf Ball and an Odyssey White Hot XG Blade Putter. He also wears HX Tour Footwear from Callaway.
Quiros and Mickelson now turn their attention to TPC Sawgrass, where they’ll join fellow Callaway staffers Ernie Els, Cameron Beckman, J.J. Henry, Matthew Goggin, Fredrik Jacobson, Thongchai Jaidee, Derek Lamely, Graeme McDowell, James Nitties, Scott Piercy, Nicholas Thomson and Oliver Wilson in one of the most talent-laden fields of the golf season.
For more information on Callaway Golf’s complete lineup of equipment, footwear and accessories, please visit www.callawaygolf.com. High-resolution images of all products are available for immediate download via the Media Center section 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.
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