Bridgestone Golf

June 8, 2005

RETURNING SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ARRIVE HOME TO NEW GOLF EQUIPMENT
THANKS TO BRIDGESTONE AND THE AMERICAN LEGION

PGA Tour Driving Distance Leader Hend To Earn Free Equipment for Military

Covington, Ga. — So that US soldiers returning from overseas can enjoy some of the very freedoms they have protected, Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is teaming up with The American Legion to provide free golf equipment to service men and women coming home from the Middle East and Afghanistan, through an innovative program called “The Long Drive Home.” The amount of free golf gear to be donated—including Bridgestone clubs and balls—will be based on each week’s impressive tee shots of current PGA Tour Driving Distance leader and Bridgestone Tour Team member Scott Hend. The longer Hend’s driving distance, the sweeter the ‘drive home’ for US service men and women.

Here is How It Works

For “The Long Drive Home,” Bridgestone Golf will provide one SKU of golf equipment (drivers, fairway woods, sets of irons, wedges, etc.) for every yard over 300 that Scott Hend averages per week that he competes on the PGA Tour. Bridgestone will provide the equipment on a weekly basis to The American Legion National Headquarters, where all products will be distributed via local posts to predetermined Middle East and Afghanistan military returnees.

For example, if Scott Hend averages 320 yards at the Barclays Classic, Bridgestone would donate 20 Bridgestone Golf J33R drivers, the same driver that Scott Hend uses, to randomly chosen active duty military returnees.

In addition, Bridgestone Golf will also donate one dozen Tour B330 or Tour B330-S golf balls for every yard Hend averages over his nearest PGA Tour competitor per week. Through the 2005 Memorial Tournament, Hend leads the Tour in driving distance, averaging 319.2 yards per drive, which is nearly 12-yards more per drive than his nearest pursuer.

“We are very pleased about the opportunity to show our appreciation for the men and women who so valiantly serve the United States abroad,” said Dan Murphy, Director of Marketing, Bridgestone Golf “We realize that while overseas, golf may be the farthest thing from soldiers’ minds, but upon their return we think they’ll yearn for life’s pleasantries so many of us take for granted on a daily basis, such as playing golf. I would also be remiss if I did not thank The American Legion. Without them helping with much of the logistics of this program, it would have been difficult to bring ‘The Long Drive Home’ to fruition.”

"We are delighted to work with Bridgestone Golf in recognizing these outstanding men and women of our armed forces who have served in harms way on our behalf,” said Thomas P. Cadmus, national commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion. "We are proud to facilitate the presentation of these welcome home gifts to America's newest veterans."

“The Long Drive Home” program commences at the Barclays Classic in Harrison, NY on June 20th and is scheduled to run through the end of the 2005 official PGA Tour season. For more information on “The Long Drive Home” presented by Bridgestone Golf and the American Legion, to monitor the cash value of the equipment donated by Bridgestone Golf and to check out the Bridgestone products Scott Hend relies on each week on Tour, visit the new Bridgestone Golf website, www.bridgestonegolf.com.