Annika Sorenstam Leads Two-Win Weekend for Callaway Golf's Great Big Bertha II Titanium Drivers

April 7, 2003 at 2:51 PM EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2003--Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY) Staff Professional Annika Sorenstam earned her first victory of the season yesterday, posting a wire-to-wire win at the Office Depot Championship. Sorenstam's four-stroke triumph at El Caballero Country Club near Los Angeles was one of two victories yesterday for golfers using Callaway Golf's Great Big Bertha(R) II Titanium Drivers across the world's major professional tours. It was a winning weekend across the board for Callaway Golf, as the Company's equipment was used by the winner on each of the three major professional tours that were active yesterday -- the PGA, LPGA and Japan Golf tours.

Sorenstam's victory at the Office Depot Championship is the first tour win for the new Odyssey(R) DFX(TM) 2-Ball Putter. Sorenstam used her new putter to roll in birdie putts on the last two holes and punctuate her 43rd career LPGA Tour victory, which is the fourth worldwide tour victory for Odyssey 2-Ball Putters this year. Three golfers used Odyssey 2-Ball Putters to earn top-10 finishes at the Office Depot Championship.

In all, Sorenstam used 11 Callaway Golf clubs at the Office Depot Championship, including her Great Big Bertha II Pro Series Titanium Driver and the new Steelhead(TM) X-16(TM) Irons, along with the HX(R) Red golf ball. Sorenstam also became the first golfer to win a tour event wearing shoes from Callaway Golf's new footwear collection. Sorenstam -- who won 13 of the 25 worldwide tournaments in which she played last year -- has yet to place lower than third on the LPGA Tour this season, having finished tied for third, second and now first in consecutive weeks.

Sorenstam's victory was the second consecutive LPGA Tour win for a player using a Callaway Golf(R) titanium driver. Callaway Golf won the driver usage count at the Office Depot Championship with 38 drivers in play, including 27 Great Big Bertha II Titanium Drivers. Callaway Golf also won the usage counts in fairway woods, irons and putters at the event, according to data from the Darrell Survey Company.

Callaway Golf drivers were also the winner on the course and in the usage counts at the first Japan Golf Tour event of the year. The winner of the Token Homemate Cup used a full set of 14 Callaway Golf clubs, including a Great Big Bertha II Titanium Driver, Steelhead III Strong 4-wood, Callaway Golf irons, two Callaway Golf Forged Wedges and an Odyssey TriHot(R) 3 Putter, along with the CTU 30(R) Blue golf ball. Callaway Golf won the driver count at the Token Homemate Cup with 31 drivers in play, including 26 Great Big Bertha II Titanium Drivers. Callaway Golf also won the usage counts for fairway woods and putters at the event, while tying for first in irons, according to data from the Darrell Survey Company. Callaway Golf equipment was also in the winner's bag at the BellSouth Classic, where the champion used a Big Bertha(R) 2-iron and an Odyssey White Hot(R) 5 Putter to capture his first PGA Tour victory.

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(TM) 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(TM) 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. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at www.callawaygolf.com and www.odysseygolf.com.

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

SOURCE: Callaway Golf Company