CARLSBAD, Calif. - TaylorMade Tour Staff professional Fred Funk outlasted rain, wind and the strongest field in golf to win the 2005 Players Championship. Funk's final-round 71 under blustery conditions at the TPC at Sawgrass got him into the clubhouse at 9-under-par, good enough for a one-shot victory. Fellow TaylorMade Tour Staffers Tom Lehman and Scott Verplank tied for second place, one shot back.
One of the key shots of the tournament was Funk's second on the dangerous par-five 16th hole during the final round. With water guarding the green on the right, he fired a TaylorMade rac CGB 3-iron from 234 yards into a strong right-to-left wind; the ball landed just short of the green and rolled to within 15 feet. The two-putt birdie proved crucial, as did his par-save from a greenside bunker on the final hole.
Besides a rac CGB 3-iron, Fred also played a TaylorMade r7 quad driver, TaylorMade rac forged irons (4-PW) and TaylorMade rac sand wedge and lob wedge. He also wore adidas Golf footwear. Known for his uncanny accuracy off the tee, Funk remained in character at Sawgrass, hitting 85.7 percent of his fairways to finish in a tie for No. 1 in that stat category. His iron play was likewise dialed in as was No. 1 in greens-in-regulation at 80.6 percent.1
Funk has now won seven PGA Tour events; at 48 he is the oldest winner of the Players Championship.
Also at the Players Championship, TaylorMade ranked as the No. 1 driver at the 169th consecutive PGA Tour event.2 A total of 59 TaylorMade drivers were put into play, 41 of which were r7 quads. TaylorMade also ranked as the No. 1 fairway wood, No. 1 iron and No. 1 hybrid. That makes the seventh time this year that TaylorMade has ranked No. 1 in all four major club count categories.3
"We congratulate Fred on his gutsy victory over the field, the course and the conditions," said Chuck Presto, vice president of sports marketing for TaylorMade-adidas. "His ability to focus and hit the shots he had to under pressure on Sawgrass's notoriously tough 16th, 17th and 18th holes is a testament to his character and his talent."
1 PGA Tour Statistics
2 No. 1 claim based on Darrell Survey brand count statistics at 169 consecutive PGA Tour events in which TaylorMade-branded drivers have ranked No. 1 or tied for No. 1. Other No. 1 claims based on Darrell Survey brand count statistics, as applicable.
3 Includes ties
About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry's technological evolution since being founded in 1979. In 1998 the company joined with adidas Golf, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of adidas-Salomon AG. Dedicated to being the best performance golf company in the world, consumers can find more information on TaylorMade-adidas Golf at (800) 888-CLUB or www.tmag.com , www.taylormadegolf.com , www.adidasgolf.com , www.maxfli.com or www.rossaputters.com.
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