June 16, 2008
           

Tiger Woods’ Remarkable Mental Toughness Prevails Once Again Leading to His Third U.S. Open Victory

 

-Nike Golf’s PGA TOUR Dominance Continues with Eight Wins; Five Different Champions; and is Two for Two in PGA TOUR Major Championship Victories-

 

Nike Golf’s Tiger Woods performed another legendary display of mental toughness en route to winning his third U.S. Open title.  Tiger's unmatched mental strength is talked about by Tiger's late father, Earl Woods, in Nike’s new ad that aired this weekend during the U.S. Open.  Woods, who struggled with a sore, post-surgery left knee throughout the weekend, making incredible shots at key moments with his Nike Golf equipment, shots that surely will become some of the most memorable images in U.S. Open history.

 

With a combination of his Nike SQ Tour driver, Nike ONE Platinum Ball, Nike SQ 2 3-wood and Nike SQ 2 5-wood as well as his Nike Blades, Woods executed a total of three eagles in the major championship that would prove to be the key to eventually securing his third U.S. Open championship victory.  One of the sizzling memorable Tiger highlights was on the 18^th hole in the final round of regulation play, when Woods hit his new Nike prototype 60˚ wedge to 12 feet and made his putt for birdie to get into an 18-hole playoff.

 

Wearing his Sunday Red Dri-FIT Drop-Needle shirt from Nike’s Tiger Woods Collection and Nike Air Tour TW 8.5 Footwear, Woods continued to march toward victory in the 18-hole playoff by making a birdie on the final hole to get into a sudden-death playoff.  On the first sudden-death playoff hole, Woods sealed his third U.S. Open title.

 

With Woods’ victory, Nike Golf’s success is amplified with a total of eight wins by five Nike athletes on the PGA Tour, including two-for-two in Major Championships with Trevor Immelman having won The Masters in April.  Nike Golf now leads the PGA Tour in driver, iron, fairway woods and wedge wins. 

  
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  Woods’ U.S. Open Highlights

 

·          Woods now has won 14 major championships on the PGA Tour, just four short of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.

·          Woods continues his streak of never having lost a major championship after leading going into the final round.  He’s 14 for 14.

·          This was Woods’ first tournament since having arthroscopic knee surgery just two months ago.

·          Woods’ U.S. Open playoff victory brings his playoff record to 16-2.

·          In the third round, Woods made two eagles and one birdie in the last six holes to enter the final round with a one-stroke lead.

·          Woods is the first player to win seven times on the same course.

 

Woods’ Nike Golf Arsenal

·         Driver:  Nike SQ Tour
·         Irons:  Nike Forged Blades (3-PW)
·         Fairway Woods:  Nike SQ 2 3-wood; Nike SQ 2 5-wood
·         Wedges:  Nike PC 56˚ and Nike Prototype 60˚ wedge
·         Ball:  Nike ONE Platinum featuring Nike Power Transfer Technology
·         Footwear:  Nike Air Tour TW 8.5 Footwear
·         Apparel:   Nike Golf Tiger Woods Collection Apparel

·         Glove:  Nike Golf’s Dri-FIT Tour
  
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Nike Golf’s Tour Staff U.S. Open Highlights

·         Nike Golf’s Carl Pettersson finished tied for sixth.

·          Nike Golf’s Stewart Cink shot 67 in the final round to jump from 32^nd to 14^th in the major championship.

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Nike Golf’s 2008 PGA Tour Victories

·         Tiger Woods – Buick Invitational
·         K.J. Choi – Sony Open
·         Tiger Woods – World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship
·         Tiger Woods – Arnold Palmer Invitational
·         Trevor Immelman – The Masters
·         Anthony Kim – The Wachovia Championship
·         Justin Leonard - The Stanford St. Jude Championship

·         Tiger Woods – U.S. Open

 
  Nike Golf’s 2008 International Victories

 

·         Tiger Woods – Dubai Desert Classic
·         Richard Finch – New Zealand Open
·         Shingo Katayama – Japan Pro Championship
·         Richard Finch – Irish Open
·         Suzann Pettersen – Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open

 
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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 eight PGA Tour wins, including two major championship, and 43 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.com