Callaway Golf's New ERC Fusion Driver Is a Winner on Tour for a Third Consecutive Week; Odyssey 2-Ball Blade Putter Scores Another Victory

October 13, 2003 at 1:58 PM EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2003--The new ERC(R) Fusion(R) Driver from Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) continues its momentum-building pace on the world's professional tours. The hot new driver -- which combines a forged titanium cup-face area with a precision-weighted composite body -- was used to win the Dutch Open yesterday, marking the third consecutive week that this revolutionary driver has been a winner on the world's professional tours. This is the first win for the ERC Fusion Driver on the PGA European Tour. The winner of the previous week's PGA Tour event used an ERC Fusion Driver, while Callaway Golf Staff Professionals Annika Sorenstam and James Oh each used the driver in their victories three weeks ago. The ERC Fusion Driver now has a total of five tour wins, including four over the past three weeks. It is expected to ship to retail accounts in December.

The winner of the Dutch Open is the first Dutch golfer to win the event since 1947. He used his ERC Fusion Driver to average 285.6 yards off the tee and hit 45 of 56 fairways while earning a one-stroke victory. The winner also used a Big Bertha(R) 2-iron in this, his first PGA European Tour victory. Each of the top five players at the Dutch Open used equipment made by Callaway Golf, including three who used the Company's Great Big Bertha(R) II Titanium Drivers.

The Dutch Open champion also used an Odyssey(R) White Hot(R) 2-Ball Blade Putter in his impressive victory. The winner used a solid putting game to navigate the final 40 holes of the event without a bogey. Odyssey 2-Ball Putters have now been used to win 25 times across the world's six major professional tours this season. The winner of the Georgia Tokai Classic on the Japan Golf Tour also used an Odyssey Putter in his victory, claiming the title with an Odyssey White Hot 5 Putter.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Samsung World Championship also relied upon equipment made by Callaway Golf. The winner of the exclusive event used a Callaway Golf(R) fairway wood, a set of Steelhead(R) X-16(R) Irons and the HX(R) Red Golf Ball to shoot a final-round 64 and charge to the fourth win of her LPGA Tour career. The two LPGA players who tied for second in the event, including Callaway Golf Staff Professional Rachel Teske, both used ERC Fusion Drivers. And Callaway Golf Staff Professional Annika Sorenstam finished fourth at the event, completing 10 years on the LPGA Tour and satisfying the seniority requirements for entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame. Sorenstam had fulfilled all other requirements for entry into the hall three years ago and will be formally inducted next week at ceremonies at the World Golf Village.

Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha(R) Metal Woods and Irons, including ERC(R) Fusion(R) Drivers, 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) Tour balls, HX 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 websites at www.callawaygolf.com, www.topflite.com and www.odysseygolf.com.

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

SOURCE: Callaway Golf Company