Hal Sutton Joins Golf’s Legendary Ben Hogan As 2004 Ryder Cup Captain

Ben Hogan Golf and Ryder Cup Players Recognize Sutton as “Game’s True Ambassador”

Fort Worth, TX, October 25, 2002 … Ben Hogan inspired Hal Sutton in his approach to the game of golf. So when the PGA Tour yesterday announced Sutton as captain of the 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup team, it was sentimental for Sutton but also a true testimony to two great ambassadors of the game.

"There have been many great players who have captained the Ryder Cup before me. I knew Mr. Hogan personally, and I have great respect for what he stood for. The fact that Mr. Hogan himself was a Ryder Cup captain makes this honor much more special," Sutton stated prior to the official announcement.

Sutton has played on four Ryder Cup teams, highlighted by a 1999 performance when he was the anchor of the U.S. team that rallied on the final day to beat Europe at Brookline. Sutton went 3-1-1. He will be charged with the task of bringing the Ryder Cup back to the United States after the Americans lost to the Europeans at The Belfry by the largest margin in 17 years.

“Hal is a great ambassador of the Ben Hogan brand and represents everything Mr. Hogan stood for,” stated Mike Ferris, vice president of marketing for Ben Hogan Golf. “Hal is a gentleman and similar to Mr. Hogan, whose work ethic and perseverance through the tough times have never wavered. He is so deserving of the Ryder Cup captaincy.”

Mr. Hogan, who was a member of five Ryder Cup teams, captained the Ryder Cup team twice as a player in 1947 and 1949 and once as a non-player in 1967.

“Ben Hogan Golf is constantly pursuing players of Hal’s caliber who are also gentlemen of the game,” said Nick Raffaele, director of tour operations for Ben Hogan Golf and Spalding Sports Worldwide. “Hal is the consummate professional and an anchor to our tour staff, which we feel is among the classiest groups of tour staff ever assembled.”

Fellow tour professionals and Ryder Cup players, playing Ben Hogan product and equipment including Bernhard Langer, Jim Furyk, and Justin Leonard, had the following to say on Hal Sutton’s selection as 2004 Ryder Cup captain:

• BERNHARD LANGER … "Hal is one of the most respected players on Tour. He has had an incredibly successful career as a solid player and champion. Hal deserves to be captain after having served on four Ryder Cup teams and through his leadership both on and off the course. Hal serves on the Board of Directors, which is voted on by the players which just shows how well liked he is by his peers. I always enjoy playing with or against Hal. He is polite, competitive and a gentleman. I am just thrilled for him."

• JIM FURYK … "I think the world of Hal Sutton and value our longstanding friendship so I'm thrilled about his selection to captain our country's team. "He is the best man for the job."

• JUSTIN LEONARD … “Hal is a natural choice for our next captain. I can't think of a player who wouldn't be honored to play for him."

ABOUT BEN HOGAN GOLF:
For 50 years, the Ben Hogan brand has been inspired by Mr. Hogan’s ability to grasp the mechanics of the game and translate them into the finest instruments. The Ben Hogan Company was formed in 1953, with a quest to make golf equipment “as close to perfect as modern tools and technology would allow.” Today the team of Ben Hogan craftsmen continue to build Ben Hogan golf equipment one club at a time, ever mindful of Mr. Hogan’s vision of perfection for the equipment that bears his signature. Ben Hogan manufactures the BEN HOGAN APEX, APEX EDGE PRO, APEX EDGE, EDGE CFT and Special Wedges. In July 2002, the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball was introduced. To find more information on Ben Hogan, visit our website at http://www.benhogan.com or call the Consumer Relations Department at 800-SPALDING (772-5346).

ABOUT HAL SUTTON:
Sutton has been instrumental in building the Hogan brand including the recent launch of the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR golf ball, which he helped design. Sutton played Hogan irons when he first joined the PGA Tour in 1982 and took the world by storm posting seven victories during his first five years on the PGA Tour, including the 1983 PGA Championship. Then from 1987 through 1994, he hit a long, winless drought. Despite the drought, Sutton worked on improving his game. In 1998 he made an equipment change back to Ben Hogan, which resulted in five wins and earnings of $6.4 million in just 2½ years. Today he plays the Ben Hogan Apex irons, carries a Ben Hogan bag, wears the Ben Hogan cap and plays the BEN HOGAN APEX TOUR ball.