PHOENIX (April 10, 2012) – PING® pros finished first, second, and tied for third at the Masters, the most successful major in the club manufacturer’s 53-year history. Bubba Watson played a miraculous recovery shot from the woods on the second playoff hole, setting up an improbable par to defeat fellow PING Pro Louis Oosthuizen, who earlier recorded a rare double-eagle on the par-5 second hole. Lee Westwood birdied four of his final six holes to finish T3.
The win vaulted Watson to #4 in the Official World Golf Ranking, giving PING three of the top-5 players in the world: Westwood #3, Watson #4, and Hunter Mahan #5. Oosthuizen climbed to #19.
“It was a great weekend for the PING family, and for Bubba’s new family in particular, and we couldn’t be happier for them,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO. “He’s had a number of high finishes this year, he and his wife Angie recently adopted a baby boy, and now he wins his first major and is ranked fourth in the world. He will be a very popular champion, and very deserving. Louis and Lee can be proud of their performances, and Louis’ double-eagle was truly amazing, a rare moment in history that will always have a connection to PING.”
Watson caught fire on the back nine Sunday, making four straight birdies on holes 13 through 16 to set up the playoff with Oosthuizen, who led for much of the day after his double-eagle, only the fourth in Masters history. But Watson had some magic of his own. After his tee shot found the woods on the second hole of sudden death (the 10th), he was undeterred. “If I have a swing,” Watson said, “I have a shot.” Roughly 155 yards from the green, he hit a wedge, hooking it some 40 yards around a stand of trees, the ball landing and spinning sideways to within 10 feet of the hole. Two putts later, he had his first major title, falling tearfully into the arms of his caddie, his mother, and numerous friends.
Watson’s Redwood Anser® putter will be the newest addition to the PING Gold Putter Vault, the 54th PING putter to have helped win a major championship, the most of any brand. Watson, 33, will receive a solid-gold replica of the putter head. Two gold-plated replicas of the putter will also be made – one for Bubba, one for the vault. His fourth career title elevated him to #1 in Ryder Cup points. He also moved to #1 on the money list, ahead of Mahan, and to second in FedExCup points behind Mahan. He remains the longest driver on tour with his all-pink G20™ driver, averaging 313.1 yards.
In addition to the Anser putter, Watson plays a bagful of PING technology: G20 driver (8.5º), G20 4-wood (16.5º), S59 irons (3-PW), Tour-W® wedges (52º, 56º), and a Tour-S® Rustique (64º/TS).
Contact:
Pete Samuels
(602) 687-5487
