KJ Choi joins Nike Golf Tour Staff

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Jan. 18 – Nike Golf has announced that Korean golfer KJ Choi has joined its professional Tour Staff. Choi is featured prominently with a host of fellow Nike Golf Tour Staff players in two new commercial spots that debuted last weekend during network coverage of the Sony Invitational from Hawaii.

In one spot, “Decisions,” Choi and 14 other golfers and professional athletes face a number of common yet agonizing choices during a round of golf. In the end, it’s the aggressive approach they choose in fitting Nike Golf style. In a spot for the Nike One Black, Nike Golf’s longest Tour ball, Choi and others chronicle their longest drives with the ball. Choi leads off the commercial with a memorable line, “I punished this ball so badly, I sent it to the moon.”

Nike Golf’s newest golfer is already proving to be an integral member of the professional team. “I feel responsible being a new face for Nike Golf in Korea. A lot of the young players, not only in Korea, but other junior players, will be looking up to me and will be studying what kind of equipment that I’ll be using,” said Choi, who has the distinction of being the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card.

“I expect the change will be a breakthrough for my golfing career and the new equipment will set a new level of powerful play for me. I just feel very honored to be a part of the Nike family.”

Choi, currently ranked 24th in the World Rankings, will open the 2005 PGA Tour season at the Buick Invitational in San Diego. He recently joined fellow Nike Golf Tour Staff players for a series of commercial shoots featuring Nike Golf’s family of performance irons, the Nike One Black golf ball and a new Nike Golf brand spot.

“KJ Choi is a global ambassador and Nike Golf is a global company. His impact will be far-reaching and his input will be invaluable,” said Kel Devlin, Nike Golf Global Sports Marketing Director. “Korea, in particular, is a key region for us. KJ will be able to help us develop junior golf programs in that country and introduce our brand to new generations of golfers.”

Choi is expected to play Nike Golf’s 410cc Ignite driver, the Ignite T60 3-wood, Nike Forged Wedges and the Nike One Black golf ball. Choi has been so impressed with the selection of irons that Nike Golf has presented him that he is still deciding between Nike Golf’s Forged Blade Irons, the new Pro Combo OS irons and the Forged Pro Combo Irons.

Choi has been particularly fond of the Nike One Black ball since he began testing with Nike Golf late in 2004. The longest Tour ball that Nike Golf has ever designed has had tremendous success since it was introduced last July with input from Stewart Cink. Appropriately, Cink was the first to win with the One Black in 2004. Choi plans to add to the ball’s streak of success in 2005.

“In my career I’ve used a lot of balls, but I’ve really never seen or hit a ball with such superior quality,” said Choi. “The One Black has very good spin, and it is very strong against the wind. I expect a lot of good things this year with the One Black.”

In addition, Choi will be wearing the technical styles from Nike Golf’s apparel and footwear lines beginning in 2005.

Choi begins his fifth season on the PGA Tour this year. In 2004, Choi had seven finishes in the Top 10 including a third place finish at the Masters in just his second appearance at the prestigious event.

Nike Golf, located in Beaverton, Oregon, is passionately dedicated to honoring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game in every product category.

For more information on Nike Golf, visit www.nikegolf.com.

Source: Nike Golf