Callaway Golf Signs Rising Young Star Casey Wittenberg to Endorse Company's Golf Clubs and Golf Balls

Callaway Golf Signs Rising Young Star Casey Wittenberg to Endorse Company's Golf Clubs and Golf Balls
Press Release

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2004--Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) has signed former amateur sensation Casey Wittenberg to an exclusive multi-year contract to endorse Callaway Golf clubs and golf balls. Wittenberg, 19, will endorse Callaway Golf's woods, irons, putter and golf ball, carry a Callaway Golf logoed bag, and began wearing the Callaway Golf logo on his hat and shirt today in the first round of the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour.

"It's a great thrill for me to be associated with Callaway Golf," said Wittenberg, who turned professional following the U.S. Open and signed with IMG. "I have played Callaway equipment for most of my life and have had great success with it. It's a company that is synonymous with cutting edge technology in golf clubs and golf balls, and I am amazed by the expertise and professionalism of the Callaway Golf tour staff. I look forward to a great partnership both on and off the golf course."

Wittenberg has already compiled some major highlights at golf's biggest events, including an impressive tie for 13th finish at the 2004 Masters, which was the best Masters finish by an amateur in 41 years and gives him an invitation to play in next year's event. Additionally, Wittenberg was the only golfer in the field to improve his score each day, shooting rounds of 76-72-71-67, and his final round included a back nine score of 31- the lowest Sunday back nine total by an amateur in tournament history. He backed up his Masters debut with an impressive showing at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills last month, shooting rounds of 71-71 to easily make the cut and finished at 296, the second-best total by an amateur.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Wittenberg recently earned All-American honors during his freshman year at Oklahoma State University. Prior to turning professional, Wittenberg was the #1 ranked amateur for almost a year and joined Tiger Woods as the only other player to achieve the #1 amateur ranking prior to entering college. In 2003, while only 18 years old, Wittenberg dominated amateur golf. He finished runner-up at the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club, where he lost in a sudden death play-off. He was selected as a member of the 2003 Walker Cup team and was the youngest participant on either side. Prior to joining the Walker Cup Team, Wittenberg won the prestigious Porter Cup, where he set a tournament record by finishing at 14-under-par 266. Wittenberg also won the Southern Amateur and the Terra Cotta Amateur last year.

Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha(R) Metal Woods and Irons, including ERC(R) Fusion(R) Drivers and Fairway Woods, Great Big Bertha(R) II Titanium Drivers and Fairway Woods, Great Big Bertha II 415 Titanium Drivers, Big Bertha Titanium Drivers and Big Bertha Stainless Steel Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye(R) VFT(R) Tungsten Injected(TM) Titanium Irons, Big Bertha Stainless Steel Irons, Steelhead X-16(R) and Steelhead X-16 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons, Game Enjoyment System(TM) (GES(TM)), Callaway Golf Forged+ Wedges and Callaway Golf Forged Wedges, and Callaway Golf Tour Blue(TM) Putters. Callaway Golf Company also makes and sells Odyssey(R) Putters, including White Hot(R), TriHot(R), DFX(R) and Dual Force(R) Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells the Callaway Golf(R) HX(R) Tour balls, HX Blue and HX Red balls, Big Bertha(TM) Blue and Big Bertha Red balls, and the Warbird(TM) balls. Callaway Golf also owns and operates The Top-Flite Golf Company, a wholly owned subsidiary that includes the Top-Flite(R), Strata(R) and Ben Hogan(R) brands. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our websites at www.callawaygolf.com, www.topflite.com and www.odysseygolf.com.