CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2003--Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) today announced that Ricky Barnes has joined the Company's team of staff professionals. Barnes, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, is making his professional debut this week at The International. Barnes, 22, will play Callaway Golf(R) clubs and balls, wear a Callaway Golf glove, carry a Callaway Golf staff bag and wear the Company's logo on his headwear as part of a multi-year agreement.

Barnes said that he chose to join Callaway Golf's professional staff because of its reputation for product innovation -- and because of the unmatched performance of some new prototype products he has been testing while playing some of golf's most prestigious professional events as an amateur.

"It's pretty amazing what Callaway Golf's engineers can do, especially with the new driver and ball I've been playing," Barnes said. "This new driver sounds good and feels good, and the ball just jumps off the face. I'm hitting more fairways with it, hitting a nice straight ball. And I put this new ball in play at the British Open and it was just piercing through the wind on every shot, taking off some of the spin while still giving me maximum distance. That's the kind of ball I've been waiting for."

"I think Callaway Golf is a step ahead of the other club and ball companies out there," Barnes added, "and I can't wait to see where we'll go together in the future."

Barnes enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, including his impressive victory in the 2002 U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club. He played college golf at the University of Arizona, where he earned All-America honors four consecutive years. Barnes recently turned professional following the British Open, which marked his third appearance in a professional major this year. He was the low amateur at this year's Masters Tournament, finishing tied for 21st while posting the lowest score by an amateur since 1998, and he also made the cut at this year's U.S. Open. Barnes is a fan favorite due to his exciting style of play, possessing impressive length off the tee and an exceptional short game. He plans to play six upcoming PGA Tour events on sponsors' exemptions in an attempt to earn his Tour card for next year.

"We are very glad that Ricky Barnes has chosen to use Callaway Golf clubs and balls as he embarks upon his professional golf career," said Ron Drapeau, Chairman, President and CEO of Callaway Golf. "Ricky joins several other strong young players on our team of Callaway Golf Staff Professionals, including Charles Howell III, Ty Tryon and Nick Dougherty. We wish Ricky well and look forward to working with him for years to come."

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.

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

SOURCE: Callaway Golf Company