WESTFORD, Mass -- PUMA is ready for some fun at the 2009 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Merchandise Show, and this year the sportlifestyle brand is bringing along some friends. New York Yankees outfielder and avid golfer Johnny Damon, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and Ladies' Professional Golf Association (LPGA) star Erica Blasberg as well as other PUMA athletes will join PUMA at the PGA Merchandise show, being held January 29 - 31, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Expect to see Kahne, Damon, Blasberg and other PUMA athletes as well as bold fashion statements and game changing innovation in the PUMA booth, #8463, located in the apparel section.

Kasey Kahne, Johnny Damon and Erica Blasberg will be at the Fashion Gallery, at 4:00 pm on January 29th (Kahne) and January 30th (Damon/Blasberg), as they learn from the golf experts and attempt to sink their golf chips. Afterwards, audience members can take a swing at the course for a chance to win an autographed PUMA Golf Club Bag and other great prizes. Immediately following, both PGA Merchandise Show guests and attendees are welcome to the PUMA booth, #8463, where Damon, Kahne and Blasberg will be signing autographs.

"PUMA is thrilled to bring our new collections and athletes to the PGA Merchandise Show. You can expect fashion forward PUMA pieces with technology that will improve your game, and make you stand out on and off the course," said Bob Philion, PUMA Golf International Business Unit Manager. "In 2009, PUMA will remain focused on providing new and exciting product and marketing stories to our consumers that are different from anything else out there, while helping to find new business opportunities with our key retail partners."

Check out what's new on the golf course:
PUMA Golf's mantra of being stylish, inclusive, colorful and fun carries on in 2009 with a wide array of collections and activities that speak to these brand attributes. In footwear, PUMA will showcase an expansion of the Smart Quill® technology family. Each style has slight variations to meet every golfer's needs; new styles include Swing Crown GTX, Tipper and Scramble. New for 2009 PUMA Golf apparel is Invisibonding technology, the alternative to classic stitching, and the first of its kind in Golf. Invisibonding works by welding two pieces of material together with a light molecular bond, which provides maximum durability, reduces friction on the skin and creates a seamless and comfortable garment. Additional PUMA Golf technologies include UV protection, moisture wicking and stretch.

The 2009 PUMA Golf range features classic colors such as spray green, black, white and steel grey or stand-out pops of color like beetroot purple, lemonade, angel blue and flame orange. Speaking of color, PUMA will re-interpret the classic golf colors of Black and White with their new PUMA Golf Special Edition Collection, which will be viewed for the first time at the PGA Merchandise Show. Known for bringing a new sense of style and surprise to the game, PUMA first launched the Special Edition Collection in 2007 with the Concorde Gold shoes worn by PUMA pro Geoff Ogilvy. In 2008, PUMA returned with a Special Edition collection with actor Luke Wilson conveying a 1950's style. For 2009, PUMA gives a nod to mod with the Black & White Pearlized Special Edition Collection - giving the game a twist on the traditional fashion colors.

This isn't your typical game of golf:
The PUMA Open, a non-traditional golf event that mixes golf, gaming, drinks and fun, had an exciting season in 2008. Stopping at six cities across the U.S., the PUMA Open delivered more than expected and created a feel that was all PUMA. In 2009, PUMA will expand the series, giving even more people the opportunity to experience exactly what PUMA Golf is all about. Exclusively at the PGA Merchandise Show, PUMA will showcase to the industry the look and feel of the event and unveil the new plans for expansion.

PUMA entered the golf category in 2006, immediately catching the eyes of golfers with their vibrant, stylish, fun and always classic world of Golf. Since 2006, PUMA Golf has exploded and continuously expands its product selection to include fashion pieces driven by sport and performance, and always looking to look better, feel better, play better. Today, PUMA golf athletes include top male and female players such as Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, Sweden's Johan Edfors and Lotta Wahlin, Japan's Hideto Tanihara and Miho Koga, American players, Jeff Overton and Erica Blasberg.

In addition to hosting the PUMA booth #8463 and events throughout the show, PUMA will participate in the new PGA Merchandise Show Fashion Gallery, a new interactive space showcasing the latest golf fashion and style. PUMA will highlight key pieces from their 2009 collections, as well as host the Kasey Kahne and Johnny Damon events at the Gallery on Thursday and Friday at 4:00 pm.

For more information about PUMA Golf, visit http://golf.puma.com

PUMA is one of the world's leading sportlifestyle companies that designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting Peace, Creativity, and SAFE Sustainability, and by staying true to the values of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in Sport and ends in Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include categories such as Soccer, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing. The Black label features collaborations with renowned designers such as Alexander McQueen, Yasuhiro Mihara and Sergio Rossi. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Tretorn and Hussein Chalayan. The company, which was founded in 1948, distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and has headquarters in Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston, London and Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit www.puma.com

Contact:
Heather Bouzan
PUMA North America
978-698-1227
Heather.Bouzan@puma.com