Roberts Signs With TaylorMade To Play Rossa; Deal Teams 'Boss Of The Moss' With Els, PGA Tour's Top Overall Putter

Contact Zack Smith
zack_smith@taylormade-golf.com

CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 30, 2002) -- TaylorMade today announced it has signed a multi-year contract with Loren Roberts to play its new Rossa putter, a product line that was introduced at retail earlier this month.

Along with playing the Rossa, the agreement calls for Roberts to carry a Rossa tour staff bag, complete with the product's noted red peacock shield logo.

He joins TaylorMade tour staff players Ernie Els and Justin Rose among a handful of top tour professionals worldwide using the new Rossa putter. Els is currently No. 1 on the PGA Tour in putts per round (26.60) and No. 2 in putting average (1.676), while Rose is in the top 5 in both categories in Europe.

"I have always been skeptical of inserts in putters," said Roberts. "Typically, they are artificial elements used to change feel -- and usually at the cost of distance control."

"But Rossa is different," he continued. "The inserts help provide better launch conditions and dramatically improved my distance control over my previous [non-inserted] putter. One putt with the Rossa and I knew they had something special."

"His stroke is the most fluid and consistent of any player in the world, and we wanted that short-game precision to symbolize our own commitment to making the world's best performance putters," said Sean Toulon, vice president of new business development and head of the specialized putter team.

"In the end, we're truly flattered to have Loren with us," Toulon continued. "Taking into account his past putter affiliation -- and his quick success with the Rossa -- I know it's going to be a long-term relationship."

Toulon followed up on this statement, highlighting the fact that Roberts has quickly moved from No. 34 (end of 2001) to No. 15 in putting average among all PGA Tour pros since putting the Rossa in play.

He also cited Darrell Survey information, which noted that before switching to the Rossa this January, Roberts had used the same putter since mid-1997 (with the exception of one tournament, the 1999 World Golf Championships).

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 brand in the world, consumers can find more information on TaylorMade Golf at (800) 888-CLUB or www.taylormadegolf.com. TaylorMade is a registered trademark of Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. All other trademarks and/or service marks are the property of their respective owners.