PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY FOOTJOY

Padraig Harrington and Footjoy

- a Perfect Fit in 2009

The No. 1 Shoe in Golf, FootJoy is delighted to announce that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Padraig Harrington.

Following an historic 2008 season in which he captured two Major championships, was named US PGA Tour Player of the Year and The European Tour Golfer of the Year, Harrington will have yet another “No. 1” when he tees off wearing the No. 1 Shoe in Golf in 2009.
Harrington will wear the latest addition to the FootJoy range, SYNR·G, available from February 1 in UK. Designed and developed to provide a solid foundation, SYNR·G is the most stable shoe FootJoy has ever produced and is perfect for players such as Harrington who possess higher swing speeds and demand additional support and motion control in their golf shoes.
"FootJoy is a brand that just about every young golfer is brought up wearing, and I'm was no different," said Harrington. “The belief should be that you are playing the very best shoes available, which will give you an edge over the field. The new SYNR-G shoes from FootJoy support the foot well throughout the golf swing, which is so important to hitting solid, powerful shots.”
A perfect combination of comfort and stability the SYNR·G will take golf shoe performance to a new level, achieved through the exclusive Tri-lateral Stability Frameä combined with a perforated alloy mid-foot support bridge to cradle the foot and provide a stable hitting platform.
“We are thrilled to welcome Padraig Harrington to Team FJ,” said Richard Fryer, European Marketing Manager - FootJoy. “Padraig not only brings an unparalleled record of worldwide success but also an intimate knowledge of the research and technology behind footwear development. He will no doubt be a great ambassador for FootJoy.”
Padraig will be featured in new FootJoy television advertisements as well as print and online creative throughout the year.

For more on SYNR-G, visit the microsite at www.footjoy.com/SYNRG.

507 Players chase 40 Asian Tour

cards at Thai Qualifying School

PRESS RELEASE FROM BANGKOK
A strong turn-out of 507 players from over 30 countries will chase their dreams when they compete in the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand which begins on Tuesday.
At stake for the hopefuls will be 40 Tour cards for the 2009 Asian Tour season which is poised to offer another lucrative schedule this year. The Tour has already announced a 28-event Schedule with over US$36 million in total prize money, with several other tournaments being finalised.
Australia has the biggest representation in the Qualifying School with 83 players shooting for their Tour cards, followed by Korea, who have 64 players and Japan, who will have 58 players in the field.
A total of 50 Americans are also in the field while players from golfing minnows including Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Brunei will also try their luck in Thailand. Players from China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and India will be amongst those competing for 40 available Tour cards.
The First Stage will start on Tuesday over three venues - Lam Luk Ka Country Club, St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley Country Club – where a total of 416 players will attempt to qualify for the Final Stage, which will be held at St Andrews 2000 (Thailand) and Rayong Green Valley from January 13 to 17.
From each of the first stage venues, the top 20 per cent finishers after four rounds, which equates to the leading 29 players and ties from St Andrews and 27 players and ties from Rayong Green Valley and Lam Lu Ka respectively, will join an already exempted 91 players in the all-important Final Stage next week.
The top-40 finishers and ties at the Final Stage, which for the first time will be played over five rounds, will earn playing rights for the new season. The 2009 season will kick off with the Asian Tour International in Suwan Golf and Country Club in Bangkok from February 5 to 8.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han was delighted to welcome a strong turnout of international competitors at the Qualifying School, presented by Sports Authority of Thailand.
“It is tremendous to receive over 500 entries to the 2009 Qualifying School, which is one of the most important events for players who harbour hopes of achieving success on the Asian Tour,” said Han.
“The strong turn-out of players reflects positively on the stature of the Asian Tour. We have sustained our growth annually since our inception as a members’ organisation in 2004. Last year, we staged a record 30 events with over US$39 million in prize money and I have every confidence that we can surpass these milestones during our 2009 season,” he added.
Amongst the notable names who will compete in the Qualifying School include promising Chinese teenagers James Su Dong and Ye Jian-feng, Singaporean Quincy Quek, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Indonesians Rory Hie and Andik Mauludin, Italian Emanuel Canonica and Japan Tour winners Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Daisuke Maruyama and Soushi Tajima, winner of the 2000 Qualifying School.
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee is the finest example of a Qualifying School graduate making a name for himself on the Asian Tour as he has won a record 10 tournaments and is the leading player in the career earnings ranking with nearly US$3 million in winnings.