June 23, 2009

Patience, Perseverance and Impressive Putting Help Guide Glover to Grab his First Major Championship title at the US Open

-Glover credits his performance with a Nike prototype putter- 

In what was a physically and mentally challenging week on a very difficult major championship course at Bethpage Black, Nike athlete Lucas Glover prevailed and emerged as the new U.S. Open champion.  This is the first major championship title of his career and second PGA Tour title.  He led a group of four Nike Golf athletes who finished the 109th US Open in the top 10.   

Playing with a full bag of Nike Golf clubs, the most notable aspect of his game that stood out was his putting.  In an interview with NBC announcer Bob Costas, Glover was asked about his impressive putting during the week, and Glover gave credit to the fact he switched to a new Nike Golf putter.

The putter he was alluding to is a new Nike prototype putter, which he has had in his bag since the Bob Hope Classic earlier in the year.  Since switching to the Nike prototype putter, Glover went from ranking 116^th in putts per round in 2008 to tied for 23^rd in 2009.  In putts per greens in regulation Glover jumped from 107^th last year to tied for 28^th in 2009.

In addition to Glover, Nike athlete Paul Casey has won three times with the prototype putter for a total of four victories.  His wins included: the Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour; the BMW PGA Championship and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on the European PGA Tour.

Another assisting factor in Glover's US Open victory was his driving performance.  Using the Nike SQ SUMO² Tour driver, Glover became the first person to win a PGA Tour major championship with a square-shaped driver.  For the week, Glover was ranked eighth in driving distance averaging 291.12 yards.  He also finished tied for 13^th in driving accuracy (71.43%).  He entered the tournament ranking first in total driving distance.

Glover's nearly 300-yard drives set him up well for his iron shots.  He ranked fourth in greens in regulation (72.2%) using the Nike CCi Forged irons.  Rounding out his arsenal of all Nike equipment were his Nike SQ 2 13-degree and SQ 2 19-degree fairway woods; his 54 and 59-degree Nike SV wedge and his Nike ONE Tour D golf ball.  For Glover's apparel and footwear, he featured Nike Golf's Tour Collection apparel and Nike Air Zoom Elite II footwear.

________________________________________________________________________

Glover's US Open Championship Highlights and Other Notes

• Ranked 1^st in total driving for the year on the PGA Tour.
• For the US Open Championship Glover finished 8^th in driving distance (291.12 yard average) and T13 in driving accuracy (71.43%).
• Glover is the first player to win a Major Championship using a square shaped driver, the SQ SUMO² Tour 9.5 degree driver.
• Glover is the second Nike athlete to win this year with a full bag of 14 Nike Clubs.
• Hitting 52 of 72 fairways during the tournament, Glover ranked 4^th in greens in regulation (72.2%).
• Glover put the Nike prototype putter in his bag at the 2009 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and his putting stats have improved from 107^th in 2008 to 28^th currently in putting average and from 116^th in 2008 to 23^rd in 2009 for putts per round.
• The US Open Championship victory is Glover's first major championship victory and second PGA Tour career title since 2005.

Glover's Nike Golf Arsenal

• Driver:  Nike SQ SUMO² Tour
• Irons:  Nike CCi Forged (3-PW)
• Fairway Woods:  Nike SQ2 3 wood (13 degree) and Nike SQ2 5 wood (19 degree)
• Wedges:  Nike SV 54 degree and Nike SV 59 degree
• Putter:  Nike Prototype Putter
• Ball:  Nike ONE Tour D
• Footwear:  Nike Air Zoom Elite II
• Apparel:  Nike Golf Tour Collection

__________________________________________________

Nike Golf's 2009 PGA Tour Victories

• Lucas Glover – US Open Championship
• Tiger Woods – The Memorial Tournament
• Paul Casey – Shell Houston Open
• Tiger Woods – Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill

Nike Golf's 2009 International Victories 

• Paul Casey – BMW PGA Championship (European Tour)
• Paul Casey – Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (European Tour)