James Oh Wins Nationwide Event with Prototype Driver and Ball to Become Youngest Ever Winner in PGA Tour-Sanctioned Event

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 2003-- Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY) Staff Professional Annika Sorenstam won the Safeway Classic yesterday using the Company's hot new prototype driver and prototype golf ball, both of which Callaway Golf(R) has been testing on the world's professional tours over the past several weeks. The same prototype driver and golf ball model were also used by Callaway Golf Staff Professional James Oh to win the Mark Christopher Charity Classic on the Nationwide Tour yesterday. Callaway Golf has not determined when the new driver and golf ball will be introduced to the public, and testing will continue with tour players and average golfers alike.

The victory at the Safeway Classic was Sorenstam's fifth LPGA Tour victory of the year, and the 47th of her career. Sorenstam defended her title at the Safeway Classic by one stroke, finishing at 15-under-par 201 for the 54-hole event. She recorded back-to-back eagles on Nos. 5 and 6, holing a 102-yard shot with a new Callaway Golf prototype wedge on the fifth hole, then used her Odyssey(R) White Hot(R) 2-Ball Blade Putter to drain a 40-foot putt for eagle on the sixth hole. Sorenstam was especially impressive off the tee using the new prototype driver and golf ball at the Safeway Classic, averaging 280.7 yards in driving distance -- nearly nine yards above her LPGA Tour-leading average of 271.9 yards.

Sorenstam used 14 Callaway Golf clubs and wore shoes from the Callaway Golf Footwear Collection in her victory at the Safeway Classic. In addition to the prototype driver, she also used a Big Bertha(R) Steelhead(R) III 7-wood, Steelhead X-14(R) Irons, three Callaway Golf prototype wedges and an Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball Blade Putter. Four of the top five finishers at the Safeway Classic used Callaway Golf's new prototype driver.

Oh's victory on the Nationwide Tour was history in the making. The Monday qualifier became the youngest-ever winner of a PGA Tour-sanctioned event at 21 years, 5 months and 27 days -- edging David Duval by more than three months. Oh's victory capped a dramatic week that saw him win a three-hole playoff to make the Mark Christopher Charity Classic field. During the event's final round, Oh birdied the final hole of regulation to force a playoff, which he won with a birdie on the third extra hole.

Like Sorenstam, Oh used an impressive showing from the tee to earn victory, averaging 299.9 yards in driving distance with his Callaway Golf prototype driver and golf ball. Oh used 14 Callaway Golf clubs at the Mark Christopher Charity Classic, including a Big Bertha Steelhead III Strong 4-wood, a Big Bertha 3-iron, Steelhead X-16(R) Pro Series Irons, three Callaway Golf Forged Wedges and an Odyssey TriHot(R) 3 Putter. Odyssey Putters were also part of a youthful victory in Japan, where the winner of the Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open used an Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball Putter. The 18-year-old winner became the first amateur to win a Japan LPGA Tour event in 30 years.

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(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) 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 and www.odysseygolf.com.

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

SOURCE: Callaway Golf