July 27, 2009
Ai Miyazato's EVIAN Victory Showcases Bridgestone's International
Portfolio of Premium Golf Balls
Miyazato Wins LGPA Tour Event with Tour Stage Golf Ball
EVIAN-LES-BAINES, France- Japan's Ai Miyazato out-lasted Sweden's Sophie Gustafson in a one-hole,
sudden-death playoff to win the Evian Masters, after both players birdied the 72nd hole of regulation competition to finish
at 14-under-par: 274. Miyazato won the event with a Tour Stage X-01G+ golf ball, manufactured by Bridgestone and popular
in Japan where its Tour-level performance is often compared to the Bridgestone 330S, the company's comparable ball played
in the U.S. on the PGA Tour. Miyazato earned $487,500 of the $3.25 event's million purse and, for her young career, established
a 1-0 LPGA playoff record.
Miyazato's steady play throughout the event culminated in a solid tee shot on the first playoff hole—replaying #18—where
she found fairway, with Gustafson in the right rough. Despite her second shot being in the right greenside bunker, Miyazato
demonstrated her short-game prowess with an up-and-down birdie for the win. For the week, she led the field with the least
number of putts: 109.
Bridgestone Golf's portfolio of golf balls, internationally, includes the Tour Stage, Bridgestone and Precept brands.
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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, Paula Creamer, Charles Howell III,
Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., whose headquarters are in Tokyo.