Callaway Golf Records Another Tour Win with New Prototype Golf Ball; Odyssey DFX 2-Ball Blade Putter Also Rolls to Victory

September 22, 2003 at 5:56 PM EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2003--The new prototype golf ball from Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) has recorded its second professional tour victory. The winner of the ANA Open at the Sapporo Golf Club on the Japan Golf Tour won with the prototype golf ball, which Callaway Golf has been testing on the world's professional tours over the past several weeks. The Company has not determined when this new golf ball will be introduced to the public, and testing will continue with tour players and average golfers alike.

The winner of the ANA Open finished at 11-under-par 277 for a one-stroke victory, his first win on the Japan Golf Tour this year. The Taiwanese golfer was one of 95 players to use Callaway Golf's prototype ball on one of the five major professional tours this past week. Remarkably, despite limited availability, the new ball already accounts for 14.7 percent of all golf balls in play on the combined five pro tours that held events this past week.

The winner of the ANA Open also used 11 Callaway Golf(R) clubs in his victory, including a Great Big Bertha(R) II Titanium Driver, Big Bertha(R) Steelhead(R) III Strong 3-wood and a set of Callaway Golf irons. This marks the 22nd victory for golfers using Great Big Bertha II Titanium Drivers across the world's six major professional tours this season.

Callaway Golf equipment was also used to win the SAS Championship on the Champions Tour. The first-time senior winner used an Odyssey(R) DFX(TM) 2-Ball Blade Putter to finish eagle-birdie and post a one-stroke victory at Prestonwood Country Club. The winner needed just 25 putts during his final-round 66, including his 9-foot eagle putt on 17 and a 14-footer on 18 to clinch the title. Odyssey Golf was the No. 1 putter brand at the event by a wide margin, as a total of 43 players in the 81-man field at the SAS Championship used Odyssey Putters - including 23 who used Odyssey 2-Ball Putters. Odyssey Golf is the No. 1 putter brand across the world's six major professional tours combined this season with 36.6 percent usage, compared with 24.4 percent for the nearest competitor.

Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha(R) Metal Woods and Irons, including Great Big Bertha(R) II Titanium Drivers and Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Steelhead(R) III Stainless Steel Drivers and Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye(R) VFT(R) Tungsten Injected(TM) Titanium Irons, Big Bertha Stainless Steel Irons, Steelhead X-16(R) and Steelhead X-16 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons, and Callaway Golf Forged Wedges. Callaway Golf Company also makes and sells Odyssey(R) Putters, including White Hot(R), TriHot(R), DFX(TM) and Dual Force(R) Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells the Callaway Golf(R) HX(R) Blue and HX Red balls, the CTU 30(R) Blue and CTU 30 Red balls, the HX 2-Piece Blue and HX 2-Piece Red balls, the CB1(R) Blue and CB1 Red balls, and the Warbird(TM) golf balls. Callaway Golf also owns and operates The Top-Flite Golf Company, a wholly owned subsidiary that includes the Top-Flite(R), Strata(R) and Ben Hogan(R) brands. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at www.callawaygolf.com and www.odysseygolf.com.

CONTACT:
Callaway Golf, Carlsbad
Larry Dorman or Mike Galeski,
760-931-1771

SOURCE: Callaway Golf