Nike Golf's Grace Park bids for LPGA Prominence in 2004

Press Release

Posted 2004-03-11

March 10, 2004 - Ranked No. 3 in the world and leading or Top 5 in practically every performance category that the LPGA tracked in 2003, Grace Park begins the 2004 LPGA season this week poised for her most prominent season, to date. Armed with a new driver from Nike Golf and featured in a new commercial spot from the same, Park will chase the Tour's distance title, the No. 1 world ranking, and stardom.

Park, confident yet unassuming at 25 years of age, took time out during her off season travels and training to test Nike Golf's next-generation driver, the Ignite, and to film a new commercial with fellow Nike Golf Tour Staffers and Frank, the world's most-famous head cover.

"I saw the success that Tiger (Woods), Rory (Sabbatini) and Trevor (Immelman) have had with the new driver and I have been anxious to put one in the bag," said Park from Tucson, Ariz., site of this week's Welch's/Fry's Championship. "The higher launch angle took a little getting used to but the result is at least five yards longer on average, enough to overtake the Tour's distance leaders who finished in front of me."

Park will play the 410cc Ignite driver with an 8.5-degree loft and a custom shaft. The Ignite's explosive distance coupled with the TA-2 LNG, Nike Golf's longest ball on Tour, gives Park a good chance of leading the Tour in driving this year. The Ignite's incredible forgiveness will also give Park the opportunity to hit more fairways in 2004, leading to lower scores, more victories and a shot at building upon her No. 3 world ranking.

"Since adding the Ignite to his bag, we've seen Tiger climb back to No. 2 in driving distance and gain more confidence off the tee in the process," said Kel Devlin, Nike Golf's Global Sports Marketing Director. "Grace has responded to the Ignite in the same fashion in all of our testing."

In addition to the Ignite, Park will continue to use Nike Golf's 54-degree and 58-degree Forged Wedges from Nike Golf for their incredible feel and workability around the green.

Between club testing the Ignite and Nike Golf's Forged Pro Combo Irons, Park made time to tape a new commercial spot for Nike Golf. The spot, titled "Garage", features Park (Korea) and Tour Staff colleagues David Duval (U.S.), John Cook (U.S.), Lanny Wadkins (U.S.), Keiichiro Fukabori (Japan), and Sabbatini (South Africa). The international ensemble shot the spot for the new Ignite driver with Frank, the Tiger Woods head cover that has earned national acclaim for his frank commentary and brashness. Park can be seen in the new creative beginning in June.

Park will host a fashion show and cocktail reception at the Nike Golf Store at Mandalay Place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 12. The fashion show will feature the 2004 Spring and Summer men's and women's apparel and footwear lines from Nike Golf. Park is currently featured in both stunning and sporty looks from Nike Golf at point of sale and online at www.nikegolf.com.