Callaway Golf Staffer Thomas Bjorn Uses FT-3 Driver, New HX Tour Golf Ball to Win Irish Open; FT-3 is Number-One Driver Model in Europe for Third Straight Week



    In the greatest PGA European Tour comeback in more than
    30 years, Callaway Golf (NYSE:ELY) Staff Professional Thomas Bjorn
    overcame a first-round 78 and a nine-stroke deficit in the Irish Open,
    birdieing the final two holes at Carton House Golf Club Monday to win
    by one stroke. After heavy rain on Sunday pushed completion of the
    tournament to Monday, Bjorn shot a closing round of 72 to finish at
    5-under-par 283 and capture his ninth PGA European Tour title.
    For the third consecutive week the Callaway Golf(R) Fusion(R)
    FT-3(TM) Driver was the #1 model choice among touring professionals at
    the Irish Open, with 52 in play (35 percent of the field). The Company
    also won the fairway wood count with 69 (36 percent).
    In addition to his FT-3 Driver, Bjorn, 35, relied on a full
    arsenal of equipment from the Callaway Golf Company, including a Big
    Bertha(R) Strong 4 Fairway Wood, a Big Bertha Heavenwood(R) Hybrid,
    Apex(R) FTX(TM) Irons from Ben Hogan(R) (a Callaway Golf brand),
    Callaway Golf X-Tour(TM) Wedges, the new HX(R) Tour Golf Ball and an
    Odyssey(R) Putter.
    The victory pushed Bjorn from 19th to fourth on the European Tour
    Order of Merit and into the No. 10 spot on the European Ryder Cup
    list. Bjorn's perseverance after his opening round was remarkable,
    aided by rounds of 66-67 in the second and third rounds and a steady
    72 in a tough final round during which no one in the field broke 70.
    "This was not an easy victory by any means, but I'm happy with the
    way I hung tough this week," said Bjorn, who tied a European Tour
    record set in 1975 for largest comeback after the opening round and
    also bounced back from two heartbreaking defeats on Irish soil. "You
    could say this country owed me one, and I was able to collect today."
    Odyssey was an overwhelming favorite at Carton House, winning the
    putter count handily as more than half of the field, including four of
    the top 10 finishers, used Odyssey Putters. Around the world in Asia
    the Odyssey domination was even more pronounced: at the Japan LPGA's
    Chukyo TV Bridgestone Ladies over the weekend, nine of the top 11
    finishers chose an Odyssey Putter, and at the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup
    on the Japan Golf Tour, seven of the top 11 did so.

    Tour results are through the week ending 05/21/06 and reflect data
    from the European PGA, Japan LPGA and JGTO Tours. Sources: Darrell
    Survey and Sports Marketing Survey, Ltd. Through an unwavering
    commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf creates products and services
    designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company
    manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf
    accessories, under the Callaway Golf(R), Top-Flite(R), Odyssey(R) and
    Ben Hogan(R) brands. For more information visit www.callawaygolf.com.