Tiger Woods Leads the Charge for Nike Golf as an Outstanding Year Unfolds

Woods Ignites the Open Championship at St. Andrews

BEAVERTON, Ore., July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- -- Jack said goodbye. Tiger said hello -- again. In Tiger-like fashion, Tiger Woods romped to a wire-to-wire victory and bested the field by five strokes to capture his second Open Championship title, complete his second grand slam and win the 10th major championship of his career.

Through the power of intention, Tiger continues to light up his sport by performing unbelievable shots that make history. He produces the kind of results that he expects from his arsenal of Nike Golf equipment that includes the Ignite 460 Driver, T60 3-Wood, Nike Forged Blades irons, 56-degree and 60-degree Pro Combo Wedges and the Nike One Platinum ball. The most powerful player in golf literally "Ignited" The Open Championship by leading the field in driving distance. His season average driving distance is 312.1 yards, a new career high.

He also is leading the charge for Nike Golf and its athletes in what is unfolding as a record year of Nike victories and top performances on the world's professional tours in 2005 -- remarkable results aided by innovative technology.

By virtue of Tiger's claim of his second Claret Jug, the Nike Ignite Driver and the Nike One Ball now is the winningest combination on the PGA Tour. No other driver-ball combination has triumphed so far in 2005 as much as the Ignite 460 and 410, and the One Ball Series, including the Nike One Platinum, Nike One Black and Nike One Gold.

Tiger's victory at The Open Championship is his second 2005 major title and fourth victory overall. His win for the Nike Golf staff this week was joined by yesterday's Nationwide Tour victory for Jason Gore at the Scholarship American Showdown. For Nike Golf, this brings the total wins on the world's professional tours this year to 13 (6 on the PGA Tour; 5 on the Nationwide; and 2 internationally). In terms of top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, there has been an impressive 21 by Nike Golf athletes.

Further proof that Nike Golf is making big footprints in the golf industry is the performance by Justin Leonard, who joined the Nike Golf staff in January. Leonard won his first PGA Tour event in more than a year, just 11 days after he began playing the Ignite 410, the Forged Blades and the Nike One Black ball. At the Byron Nelson Championship, Leonard switched colors from the One Black to the One Platinum ball. Two weeks later, he won the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic marking only the second time in his career that he has captured multiple victories in a single season. Leonard's wins are joined by the international victories of Nike Golf's KJ Choi and Paul Casey.

Gore's victory yesterday on the Nationwide Tour further highlights a gathering of momentum as Nike Golf staffers on that tour have amassed six victories. That includes three by Chris Couch (the current money leader), one by Kim Felton, and two by media darling Gore. Gore, who warmed the hearts of the gallery at this year's U.S. Open, uses the Nike Pro Combo Tour irons, which have helped catapult him to the top-10 on the Nationwide Tour money list.

It is not only Nike golf equipment that enhances each of its athletes' performances. For every shot, every putt, every footstep, every kind of weather condition, inspiring confidence, comfort and innovation cannot be minimized. From the Nike polos, to the mocks to the Nike Sphere React, every piece of material matters in each of Nike Golf athletes' competitive experience. And each footstep toward the winning final hole, whether it's the SP6 or SP7 TW Tour, or any of the Nike footwear models, influences the total package -- and Nike Golf has the total package.

Undoubtedly, two-thirds into the 2005 Tour season Nike Golf is making some noise -- and it's the technological innovation that has been the spark that lights Nike Golf's fire.

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 2005, Nike Golf's Tour Staff have accumulated six PGA Tour victories and 21 top-10 finishes. LPGA player Grace Park has recorded two top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour so far.

For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nikegolf.com. Editors and journalists seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.


Source: Nike Golf