KJ Choi Joins Nike Golf Tour Staff
18 January 2005 - 3:13AM
PR Newswire (US)
KJ Choi Joins Nike Golf Tour Staff Newest Global Ambassador Feels
the Eyes of a Nation Upon Him BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 17
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The youthful eyes of Korea are on KJ
Choi. He knows they are watching and he takes his responsibilities
as role model for a nation very seriously, which is why every move
he makes is calculated, every decision is well researched. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020719/NKGOLFLOGO ) That is
why Nike Golf is proud to announce that golfer KJ Choi has made the
inspired choice to join the professional Tour Staff of golf's
newest leader. Choi is featured prominently with a host of fellow
Nike Golf Tour Staff players in two new commercial spots that
debuted this past 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 our Web site at http://www.nikegolf.com/. Editors and
journalists seeking editorial information and downloadable images,
visit http://www.nikegolf.com/presscenter.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020719/NKGOLFLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Nike Golf CONTACT: Dean
Stoyer of Nike Golf, +1-503-532-6018 or Web site:
http://www.nikebiz.com/
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