April 21, 2008

Ochoa and new PING putter on record-setting roll

PING pro Lorena Ochoa, who added the new PING Redwood ZB putter to her bag to begin the season, tied the LPGA record for wins in consecutive weeks when she captured the Ginn Open by three shots. Her fourth win in a row, and fifth in six events this year, equaled the mark set 45 years ago by LPGA legend Mickey Wright. It was her tenth win in 15 starts since claiming her first major championship at last year's Women's British Open. Her average margin of victory this year has been more than seven shots.

April 14, 2008

Ochoa Hall of Fame bound

Lorena Ochoa's remarkable run of victories has earned her a ticket to the Hall of Fame. She qualified by winning the Corona Championship in her native Mexico by 11 shots. The 26-year-old, who will have to wait 4 years for official induction, became the 2nd youngest player to qualify. She's now won 4 of 5 events this year 9 of her last 14 since winning last year's Women's British Open.

April 7, 2008

Ochoa on a major roll

Since winning her first major championship at last year's British Women's Open, PING pro Lorena Ochoa has won 8 of 13 events, including the Kraft Nabisco Championship — the year's first major. At Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage, where she celebrated with the traditional victory leap into greenside lake, she cruised to a five-shot win over the world's #2 and #3 players. The incredible run has strengthened her position as the world's #1 player by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

March 30, 2008

Ochoa spectacular at Safeway International

Proving why she's the top female golfer in the world, PING pro Lorena Ochoa turned a 1-shot lead entering the final round into a 7-shot victory with a closing 66 to successfully defend her title at the Safeway International in Phoenix. It was her second win in three starts this year and jumped her atop the LPGA Money list. Her 22-under-par was the lowest winning total in the event’s 5-year history at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club.

March 1, 2008

Rookie Sensation: Friberg a Winner

In only her third start as an LPGA rookie, Louise Friberg collected the first-place check after coming from 10 shots behind in the final round of the Mastercard Classic in Mexico. Her closing round 7-under-par 65 earned her a one-shot victory and the $195,000 top prize. The 27-year-old Swede played PING G2 irons, a G10 driver, G5 fairway woods and hybrid, Tour wedges and a JAS Craze-One putter.

March 1, 2008

Ochoa Cruises to 11-shot win at HSBC Womens Champions

In her first start of the 2008 season, PING pro Lorena Ochoa made it clear she wants to maintain her grip on the #1 world ranking. Her 11-shot win at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore against the top players in the world was the largest margin of victory of her 18 career titles. She carried 14 PING clubs, including a new Redwood Series ZB model. Her 20-under-par total came on the strength of 23 birdies over four rounds.

January 6, 2008

Chopra Champion of Champions

PING pro Daniel Chopra cashed a $1.1 million check and drove off with a new Mercedes for winning the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championship, but it was an invitation to his first Masters that was on the top of his mind. The 34-year-old birdied the fourth playoff hole to beat the winners-only field and fulfill his "lifelong dream" of playing in The Masters. In carding an 18-under-par total over the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Chopra led the field in putting with his Anser2 putter—holing a tour-record tying nine putts over 20 feet for the tournament. He also played S59 irons (3-9, PW) and two PING Tour wedges (52 & 58 degree).

November 18, 2007

$1 million payday for Ochoa

In a record-setting year, it was fitting PING pro Lorena Ochoa saved the best for last—hitting her approach shot from the deep rough to three feet on the final hole to win the $1 million first prize at the season-ending ADT Championship. Clinging to a one-shot lead in a battle for the LPGA's richest prize, Ochoa relied on her PING S58 6-iron for the shot described by The Golf Channel as the shot of the year. The win was her 8th of the season (and 5th since signing an endorsement agreement with PING) and lifted her over the $4 million season earnings mark—more than twice the next highest money winner.

November 18, 2007

Jimenez prevails in Hong Kong Open

PING pro Miguel Angel Jimenez' return to the winner's circle for the first time in two years had a familiar feeling. At the 2005 Hong Kong Open, he claimed the title on the same course by the same 1-shot margin of victory. This time, he relied on a final round 67 over the Hong Golf Club to erase a four-shot deficit entering the last day of play. In securing his 15th career title on the European Tour, Jimenez played a Rapture driver, S59 irons, TiSI Tec fairway woods, a Redwood Anser putter and two new PING Tour-W wedges.

November 4, 2007

Globe-trotting Cabrera continues win streak with G10 driver

U.S. Open Champion Angel Cabrera collected his third victory in three weeks with a 1-shot victory at the Barclay's Singapore Open. A birdie on the final hole at Sentosa Golf Club secured the title. Since finishing runner-up in the World Match Play in England a month ago, he's collected titles in Bermuda (PGA Grand Slam), Argentina (Torneo de Maestros) and Singapore. He's now ranked 14th in the world. Cabrera, who recently signed a new multi-year contract to continue representing PING, plays the new PING G10 driver, S58 irons, a TiSI Tec 3-wood and a Redwood Anser putter.

October 29, 2007

Chopra and Tour-W wedges earn 1st PGA Tour wins

Weather delays forced a Monday morning finish at the Ginn sur Mer Classic, but it couldn't stop PING pro Daniel Chopra's first visit to the PGA Tour winner's circle. Sharing the overnight lead at 18-under, Chopra birdied the 16th hole to grab the lead and finished par-par to claim the $810,000 first-place check. The 33-year-old relied on two new PING Tour-W wedges, S59 irons, a G5 L-wood and Anser2 putter in securing his first win in 133 PGA Tour starts.

October 17, 2007

Cabrera & G10 Driver capture "Grand Slam of Golf"

A birdie, eagle finish earned PING pro Angel Cabrera a spot in a playoff that he won after three holes to claim the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The annual gathering of the four major championship winners was held at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, where Cabrera carded back-to-back rounds of 68 to match the low total. After parring the first two extra holes, the reigning U.S. Open Champion birdied the par-5 18th hole—site of his earlier eagle—to claim the $600,000 winner's check. He played the new PING G10 driver, S58 irons, a TiSI Tec 3-wood and a Redwood Anser putter.

October 14, 2007

World #1 Ochoa locks up Player of Year award

PING pro Lorena Ochoa's seventh win of the season — a four-shot win at the Samsung World Championship — was worth a lot more than the $250,000 winner's check. In addition to successfully defending her title, she clinched LPGA Player of the Year honors for the second straight year. It was her sixth win in her last 13 events and continued a record-setting season that includes her first major title. Ochoa, who on October 7 became the first player in LPGA history to eclipse the $3 million mark in a single season, played a Rapture driver, a Rapture 5-wood, a Rapture 21-degree hybrid, S58 irons and Tour wedges.

September 30, 2007

Hjorth Returns to Winner's Circle

PING pro Maria Hjorth outlasted fellow PING pros Stacy Prammanasudh and Lorena Ochoa to win the Navistar LPGA Classic. Maria played PING S58 irons, a Rapture driver and hybrid, Tour wedges and a G2i Craz-E long putter. It was her first win since 1999 and gave PING pros wins in five of the last six LPGA events.

September 23, 2007

Westwood Masters The Belfry

PING's phenomenal year on Tour continued with Lee Westwood shooting a final-round 65 to win the Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry, his 18th European Tour title. The win also marked the first Tour wins for the new G10 driver (9°) and fairway woods (#3 & #5), the new i10 irons, and the new Tour-W wedges (54° & 58°). Lee also played the G2 Piper putter.

September 1, 2007

Steinhauer Goes Wire-to-Wire at LPGA State Farm Classic

PING pro Sherri Steinhauer claimed her eigth LPGA title at the LPGA State Farm Classic, birdieing the final hole to win by a single stroke. Sherri plays a 10° G2 Driver, 24° Rapture Hybrid, G5 irons, Tour wedges, and a B90 (long) putter.

August 26, 2007

Ochoa Wins 3rd Consecutive Title

PING pro Lorena Ochoa earned her sixth LPGA title — and 3rd consecutive win of 2007 — at the Safeway Classic by an impressive 5-stroke margin. Only the second player to win three consecutive events on the LPGA Tour, the win also moved the 25-year old into fifth place on the LPGA's Official Career Earnings List.

August 19, 2007

Ochoa Dominating LPGA Tour

PING pro Lorena Ochoa continues to dominate the LPGA Tour, following up her Women's British Open victory with her 5th title of the year at the CN Canadian Women's Open. The win increased her 2007 earnings to over $2.6 million, more than twice that of her nearest competitor. Lorena also leads in 6 other statistical categories, including Greens in Regulation, Scoring Average, Rounds under Par, Birdies per Round and Eagles per Round.

August 5, 2007

Ochoa Captures First Major

Lorena Ochoa chose the Old Course at St. Andrews—one of golf's greatest stages—to claim her first major victory. The newly-signed PING staff member cruised to a wire-to-wire, 4-shot win as she strengthened her position as the #1 female player in the world. She played a Rapture driver, 5-wood, 21° hybrid, S58 irons and Tour wedges. It was her fourth win of the season and raised her earnings to nearly $2.3 million.

July 15, 2007

Havret Wins Scottish Open

PING pro Gregory Havret won The Barclay's Scottish Open, his first win on the European Tour since 2001, in dramatic fashion by outlasting three of the world's top 10 players, including the #3 player, whom he defeated on the first sudden death playoff hole. The win moved Havret into the top 10 on the European Order of Merit and qualified him for The British Open. Gregory plays a 9° Rapture Driver, G2 3-wood, S58 irons, 52° & 58° Tour Wedges (Black Nickel finish), and a Craz-E B putter.

June 24, 2007

Mahan Breaks Through

Two birdies in a span of 15 minutes on the 18th hole—one in regulation to force a playoff and the other on the first extra hole—lifted Hunter Mahan to his first PGA Tour victory at the Travelers Championship. The dramatic final hole heroics concluded a spectacular week for the 25-year-old Mahan, who opened the tournament with an 8-under-par 62. His win was worth $1.08 million and earned him an invitation to next year's Masters. Hunter played a 9° Rapture Driver, 18° Rapture hybrid, S58 irons (3-9, PW) and a Anser G2i putter.

Visit the PING _PROS micro site to see Hunter's specs

June 17, 2007

Angel of Oakmont

Battling the world’s number one player and what many called the toughest course in U.S. Open history, PING pro Angel Cabrera outlasted both in claiming his first major championship. The Argentine’s 5-over-par total at Oakmont Country Club came on the strength of a final round 69 — one of only eight under-par rounds on the week — that earned him a 1-shot victory worth $1.2 million. Angel plays a 7.5° Rapture Driver, a TiSI Tec #3-wood, S58 irons (3-9,PW), and a Redwood Anser putter.

Visit Angel's web site

June 17, 2007

Riley Prevails in Playoff

Pulling his trusty Anser putter out of the closet and back into play helped PING pro Chris Riley capture the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby, his first victory on Tour since the 2002 Reno-Tahoe Open. Starting the final round two shots behind the leader, Riley's 28-putt round — including a 2-putt from almost 100 feet on the final hole in regulation — secured a playoff spot, which he won with a par on the second playoff hole. Chris' other clubs include a 10.5° G5 Driver, Rapture #3-wood, an 18° Rapture Hybrid, two G5 Hybrids (22° & 25°), i5 irons (4-9,PW), a 54° iWedge, and an Eye2 LW.

May 13, 2007

Prototype Putter Leads Westwood to Victory

PING pro Lee Westwood won the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia on the European Tour using a putter that fellow PING pro Mark Calcavecchia had taken out of his bag after a poor putting round at the PODS Championship. Westwood started using the putter in the second round, tying the course record with a 64, then followed up with rounds of 65 and 67, recording 23 birdies and one eagle in the final 3 rounds. Lee's other clubs include a 9° Rapture Driver, a Rapture Tour 3-wood, a G2 5-wood, S58 irons, and Tour Wedges with lofts of 54° & 58°.

March 11, 2007

Calcavecchia prevails at PODS Championship

After narrowly making the 36-hole cut, PING pro Mark Calcavecchia shot a course-record-tying 62 on Saturday, leap-frogging over 50 players to the top of the leaderboard and into a tie with fellow PING pro Heath Slocum. Calc's 1-under-par 70 in the final round secured his 13th PGA Tour victory. Mark plays the Rapture Driver (7.5°), i5 Irons, Eye2 Wedges and a Redwood Anser putter.

Visit the PING _PROS micro site to see Mark's specs

March 5, 2007

Wilson breaks through with first PGA Tour win

PING pro Mark Wilson was the last man standing after a four-man playoff at The Honda Classic. After making a 45 foot par-saving putt on the 16th hole to help get into the playoff, Wilson sank an 8 foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole for the win. Mark plays the Rapture Driver (7.5°), i3 Blade Irons, a Rapture Hybrid (18°), Tour Wedges (52°, 56°, 60°) and a G2 Anser B putter.

February 25, 2007

Prammanasudh notches 2nd LPGA win

PING pro Stacey Prammanasudh shot rounds of 69-66-68 at the Fields Open in Hawaii for a one-stroke victory, her second win on the LPGA Tour since joining in 2003. Stacey plays the Rapture Driver (9°), i3+ Blade irons and wedges, an iWedge, Rapture Fairway woods, and a G5i Craz-E B putter.

February 11, 2007

James wins Allianz Championship

PING pro Mark James shot a 4-under-par 68 on Sunday, coming from behind to earn a two-stroke victory at The Allianz Championship. Mark played the G2 Driver (7.0°), i5 Irons, Eye2 Wedges, TiSI Tec Fairway Woods, and a JAS Craz-E One Putter.