February 25, 2008

Tiger Woods Wins Swoosh-Dominated World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship

Nike Golf Tour staff members and the Swoosh were visibly at the forefront of the Accenture Match Play Championship.  Four Nike Golf athletes were among the final eight in the field, three were among the last four and Nike Golf’s Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink were the two left standing with Woods emerging as the awe-inspiring winner - again.  

The names finishing at the top were Swoosh heavy as well, with Woods, Cink and Justin Leonard finishing first, second and fourth, respectively.  The success of each Nike athlete was boosted by their Nike Golf clubs, Nike ONE Balls, Nike Golf apparel (the number one golf apparel company in the world), and Nike Golf footwear.

Woods led the Nike Golf dominance en route to his fourth straight victory on the PGA Tour and fifth straight win overall.   The world’s number one has now won seven of his last eight PGA Tour events dating to the World Championships- Bridgestone Invitational.  Woods’ winning performance brings his total PGA Tour victories to 63, surpassing Arnold Palmer and moving him to just one win short of Ben Hogan.  
The talent of the Nike Golf athletes combined with their Nike Golf equipment, apparel and footwear, continues to make a bold statement on the PGA Tour.   To substantiate Nike Golf’s success, its athletes already have won three of the nine events on the PGA Tour with Woods claiming two PGA Tour titles and K.J. Choi capturing one title so far.   For the last two years, Nike Golf has led the PGA Tour in driver, fairway woods and iron wins.   

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Woods’ Nike Golf Arsenal

  • Driver:  Nike SQ Tour
  • Irons:  Nike Blades (3-PW)
  • Wedges:  Nike Pro Combo 56˚ and Nike SV 60˚
  • Fairway Wood: Nike SUMO 15˚ and Nike SUMO 19˚
  • Ball:  New Nike ONE Platinum featuring Nike Power Transfer Technology
  • Footwear:  Air Tour TW 8.5
  • Apparel:  Nike Golf Tiger Woods Collection Apparel
  • Glove:  Nike Golf’s Dri-FIT Tour

Woods’ World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship Highlights

  • It was his 63rd career victory surpassing Arnold Palmer, moving him into fourth place on the PGA Tour’s career list.

  • Woods is one victory shy of Ben Hogan.
  • It was his third Accenture Match Play Championship victory.
  • In the first round, he rallied from three down with five holes left to play to win. 
  • His 8-and-7 victory on the final day in the 36-hole championship match becomes the largest margin of victory in a championship match.
  • Out of 117 holes he played, Woods made 47 birdies and two eagles.
  • He’s won four straight PGA Tour events and six of the last seven.
  • Has won six straight official tournaments around the world.

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 Nike Golf Accenture Match Play Championship Highlights

  • Nike Golf’s Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink and Justin Leonard finished first, second and fourth, respectively.
  • Four Nike Golf athletes were among the final eight in the field, three were among the last four and Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink were the two left standing with Woods emerging as the champion.   
  • Stewart Cink's runner-up finish at the Accenture Match Play Championship is his best career finish at this event and his highest finish since losing in a playoff at the 2006 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.
  • It was Cink's second top-3 finish of the year.
  • Cink’s second-place finish moves him into 10th in all-time career money earned on the PGA Tour.  

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Nike Golf’s 2008 PGA Tour Victories

  • Tiger Woods – Buick Invitational

  • K.J. Choi – Sony Open
  • Tiger Woods – Accenture Match Play Championship

 Nike Golf’s 2008 International Victories

  • Tiger Woods – Dubai Desert Classic

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Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game.
 

In 2008, Nike Golf’s PGA Tour staff has three wins and 14 top-10 finishes. In 2007, Nike Golf had 13 PGA Tour wins, seven Nationwide Tour victories and eight international titles.  For the last two years, Nike Golf has led the PGA Tour in driver, fairway woods and iron wins.

For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nikegolf.ca. Editors seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.

For information on Nike Golf Canada, please contact:

Vitalis Gomes

Nike Golf Canada

905.771.2058

vitalis.gomes@nike.com

Tim O'Connor

O'Connor Golf Communications

519.341.4778

tim@oconnorgolf.ca