Callaway Golf Staffer Phil Mickelson Wins PGA Championship; Uses New Fusion FT-3 Driver to Capture His Second Career Major; Win is Fifth '05 Major Championship for Breakthrough Driver

August 15, 2005 at 5:57 PM EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--Neither rain storms nor lightning delays nor desperate final-round charges by a foursome of golfers could keep Phil Mickelson from his appointment with a PGA Championship victory today. After an overnight delay caused by a lightning storm that interrupted Sunday's final round, Mickelson returned to the Baltusrol Country Club this morning to finish what he had started. He birdied the 72nd hole for a closing round of 72 - good for a total of 4-under-par 276, one stroke clear of fellow Callaway Golf(R) Staff Pro Thomas Bjorn and Steve Elkington. The victory in the year's final major gave Mickelson his second career major championship in the past two seasons, his fourth win this year and was the fifth major championship victory of 2005 for the FT-3(TM) Driver as well as the fourth '05 major win for the HX(R) Tour Golf Ball.

As he has in all his victories this year, Mickelson used the Big Bertha(R) Fusion(R) FT-3 Driver, Callaway Golf X-Tour(TM) Irons (3-PW), Callaway Golf Forged + Wedges (52, 56 and 60 degrees), an Odyssey(R) PM Prototype blade putter and a HX Tour 56 Golf Ball. He also wore Callaway Golf Footwear. Bjorn carried a Big Bertha Titanium 454 Driver, a Big Bertha Strong 4-wood, a Big Bertha 7-wood, Ben Hogan(R) Apex(R) FTX(TM) Irons (3-9), Callaway Golf Forged + Wedges, an Odyssey TH3 Putter and the HX Tour 56 Golf Ball.

Mickelson solved the enormous difficulties of the 7,392-yard Baltusrol Country Club layout by building a big lead over the first two rounds, shooting 67 and 65 to get to 8-under-par, and then holding off the rest of the field by playing smart golf and attacking only when he had an opening. The final opportunity came on the last hole of the event, when he split the middle of the fairway with his drive to set up the tournament winning birdie.

"When I absolutely had to drive the ball in the fairway on the final holes, I had the confidence to step up and really cut it loose," said Mickelson, 35. "That last drive at 18 today was critical, and I busted it. The stats don't really reflect how well I drove it when I really had to. It was the key to the whole week, being able to shape the drives the way I needed to, on demand, to have any chance at getting reasonable birdie chances.

"The FT-3 Driver kept the ball in play well for me off the tee. The internal weighting system allowed me to eliminate the right side of play, so I only had to worry about trouble on the left. The fairways I missed, the majority were on the left, which helped me to know I didn't have to worry about half the trouble on the course."

Bjorn, who lipped out a putt for birdie at 18 that would have put him in a playoff with Mickelson, was pleased with his performance. He birdied the 17th hole today with a 9-iron to within 10-feet and then blasted his drive into perfect position at the final hole with his Big Bertha 454 Driver.

"I feel like I stuck my nose in there and played hard and tried hard," Bjorn said. "I tried 110 percent and came up one short. I hit a lot of really good shots, but it wasn't to be. The guy that won this golf tournament led from day one, and when you lead from day one and you stand with the trophy in hand, you certainly deserve to win."

Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf(R), Top-Flite(R), Odyssey(R) and Ben Hogan(R) brands. For more information visit www.callawaygolf.com.


CONTACT: Callaway Golf Company
Larry Dorman, 760-931-1771
SOURCE: Callaway Golf Company