January 10, 2005
Appleby And Bridgestone Team up For Week of 'Firsts' at Kapalua
Defending Champ Says 'Aloha' to New Bridgestone Equipment with Mercedes Repeat
Covington, Ga. — PGA TOUR star Stuart Appleby, in his FIRST official PGA TOUR event using new Bridgestone
equipment, overcame a slow start in Hawaii becoming the FIRST person in history to repeat at the Mercedes Championships
on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, all while awaiting the birth of his FIRST child. Appleby's down-to-the-wire
win (the FIRST ever at Kapalua after an over par opening round) gives him golf's FIRST title of the 2005 season
and Bridgestone Golf's FIRST ever PGA TOUR victory.
Bridgestone-Equipped Win
Appleby relied on the new Bridgestone TOUR B330 ball, Bridgestone J33P driver, J33B Blade irons and J33 AirMuscle utility
clubs on his way to rounds of 74-64-66-67, in his season opening one-shot victory in Hawaii. The Bridgestone TOUR B330 features
a Speed Elasticity Core for increased initial velocity at impact, delivering increased distance off the tee. This was never
more evident than on the hole which started Appleby's final round charge, the Par 4, 6th. Appleby boomed an almost inhuman
389-yard drive to reach the green and leave himself with a 12-footer for eagle. Appleby made good on the eagle attempt and
continued to roll from there.
"The new ball is just awesome," said Appleby. "I've picked up an additional 15 yards off the tee, and when you see this
thing perform in the wind, you really know it's something special."
Appleby finished 5th in the field in driving distance for the week with an average of 287.1 yards per drive.
Appleby also counted on the new Bridgestone gear to gain a top 5 finish in six other statistical categories, including such
telling statistics as, birdies, eagles, putts per green and greens in regulation.
"We knew Stuart was going to have a great season when we first witnessed the way he performed with the new clubs and balls
during testing sessions," said Dan Murphy, Director of Marketing, Bridgestone Golf. "What a great way to begin the new season,
the stars are really beginning to align for us and for Stuart."
The Bridgestone TOUR B330 ball is already available at retail in select locations and the clubs Appleby relied on will be
available March 1st, at golf specialty stores and green grass retailers nationwide.
# # #
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium
golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brand names.
Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including
Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar,
Davis Love III, Paula Creamer,
Brandt Snedeker, Nick Price,
and Lee Trevino.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.,
whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is proud to be the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf as the industry
leader in live launch monitor fittings. Bridgestone provides three ways for golfers
to find the ball that best fits their game: live fittings through the
Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge, live online
chats with ball fitting
experts through its B-FIT service, and an easily accessible
Online Ball Selection Guide. For more
information on ball fitting, including a complete schedule of Ball Fitting Challenge
events, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
