New Big Bertha® Steelhead Plus™ Fairway Wood helps Azinger Earn Stirring Sony Open Victory,highlighting A Big Weekend For Callaway Golf

January 17, 2000 at 12:00 AM EST
CONTACT(S): Larry Dorman, Mike Galeski, Jamie Taylor (760) 931-1771

CARLSBAD, CA., Jan. 17, 2000 – Callaway Golf (NYSE:ELY) Staff Professional Paul Azinger established two firsts at the Sony Open this past weekend on the PGA Tour: his first victory since overcoming cancer, and the first win for the new Big Bertha Steelhead Plus Metal Woods. Azinger’s commanding seven-stroke victory was the highlight of a strong Callaway Golf showing at Waialae Country Club.

In his emotional wire-to-wire victory, Azinger used a full complement of Callaway Golf® metal woods, including the just-introduced Steelhead Plus 3-wood, while shooting four rounds in the 60s. This was Azinger’s first win since the 1993 PGA Championship. Shortly after that victory, Azinger was diagnosed with lymphoma in his right shoulder and underwent successful chemotherapy.

“This is a huge moment for me and for my family,” said Azinger, a Callaway Golf Staff Professional since 1993. “I am really happy and proud to be back in the winner’s circle. I hope this victory can be a source of hope for people who are diagnosed with cancer that they can come back and do the things they want to do.”

Azinger was joined by other Callaway Golf Staff Professionals atop the leaderboard at the Sony Open. Jesper Parnevik finished tied for third using a Steelhead Plus 3-wood, marking his second top-10 finish in as many weeks, while Carlos Franco tied for ninth playing a Steelhead Plus Driver and the new Big Bertha Steelhead X-14™ Irons. Callaway Golf fairway woods were the most-played fairway woods at the Sony Open, according to figures from the Darrell Survey, with 36 percent of the field using Callaway fairway woods compared to 21.4 percent for the nearest competitor.

The winner of The Office Depot, the LPGA’s season-opening event, also used Callaway Golf fairway woods. The winner used two Callaway Golf fairway woods in her four-stroke victory. According to the Darrell Survey, Callaway Golf was the most-played driver, fairway woods and irons brand at The Office Depot.

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