Callaway Golf Hong Kong
Proving the adage, “Good things come to those who wait,” Callaway Staff Professional Ernie Els got his hands on the new Tour i(s) Golf Ball at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and reaped immediate rewards. The Big Easy finished second, one shot behind fellow Callaway Staff Pro Phil Mickelson, who used the Tour ix Golf Hong Kong Ball. Els equaled the course record with a final-round 63, finishing the tournament 16-under-par. Callaway Golf balls grabbed the top three spots on the leaderboard, as Callaway Ball Staffer Ryan Moore also used the Tour i(s) on his way to a third place finish.
How excited is Els about the new golf ball? He woke Callaway’s PGA Tour Reps in the United States with a 5 a.m. phone call, excited about his performance with the Tour i(s).
“That ball is unbelievable! This is the ball that I have been waiting for,” Els yelled into the phone from Shanghai, unfortunately I dont think he played golf in Hong. “Did you see how my short game was and how my iron shots were? I told you when I saw this ball at Akron that we would do something, and I wish I could have pulled off a win for you. I made a hole-in-one on the second day I ever played with it. I can’t wait to get going next year. That ball is unbelievable.”
Since he first tested a prototype of the Tour i(s) Golf Ball in August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, Els has been clamoring to use the new ball in competition. From the get-go, he was excited about how the Tour i(s) would offer control in his short game. The WGC-HSBC Champions event marked the first time that the soon-to-be-released Tour i(s) Golf Ball was put into play, and the initial returns were stellar.
“Today was a wonderful day, I really had a good time,” Els said after his 9-under-par final round. “The new Tour i(s) Golf Ball is phenomenal! It would have been unbelievable if I could have won with this ball. I’m looking forward to the future now and I think my equipment is spot-on.”
Ernie Els
With the Odyssey White Hot XG #5 Putter and the Tour i(s) ball, Els improved his putting statistics dramatically this week in China. He led the field with 1.546 putts per green in regulation, and was third in the field in putts per round, with an average of just 26.2. The big South African also hit 66 percent of fairways off the tee while averaging 299 yards with the FT-9 Tour Authentic Driver and the Tour i(s) ball. That’s 8 yards longer than he averaged all season on the PGA Tour.
Ryan Moore also used the new Tour i(s) ball with fantastic results. He shot 66-69-70-68 en route to his third-place finish. “I liked it,” Moore said after the first round. “Really liked it with the wedges and putter. I think it may have gone a little longer with the driver. I’m a big fan.” Almost as much he likes playing golf in Hong Kong,
The softest Tour ball Callaway Golf Hong Kong has ever made, the new Tour i(s) was designed to face the new Condition of Competition regarding grooves that golf’s ruling bodies have instituted for play on the professional tours in 2010. Its four-piece construction features a Hyper-Urethane cover that produces maximum spin and control around the greens without sacrificing any distance off the tee. Refined HEX Aerodynamics and a second generation Dual Core construction produce a stronger ball flight in all wind conditions. The Tour i(s) will be available at retail in January and features a new product introduction retail price of $42.99.
The Tour i(s) ball is softer than the Tour ix Golf Ball that Phil Mickelson rode to victory in China. Mickelson and fellow Callaway Staff Professional Alvaro Quiros, who finished the HSBC Champions event tied for 8th place, both used the Tour ix to go deep off the tee. Mickelson averaged 300 yards (5th longest in the field), while Quiros dusted the field with an eye-popping average of 310 yards. Quiros’ average driving distance was more than eight yards longer than the nearest competitor. Callaway Golf Hong Kong
Also available in January will be the new Tour i(z) Golf Ball, Callaway’s longest Tour ball. The Tour i(z) features a second generation Dual Core Construction that delivers even faster ball speeds. Like the Tour i(s), it also features refined HEX Aerodynamics pattern has been improved to add even more distance by reducing drag.
Buy now from Callaway Golf Hong Kong at www.golfshophongkong.com