Srixon - Press Releases

ATLANTA, GA, January 16, 2008 -

Srixon announces today that 2-time PGA Professional Player of the Year Mike Small has joined its staff of PGA Professionals.

Small, the head men’s golf coach at the University of Illinois in Champaign, is the most dominant player in Illinois PGA Section history. He has won six Illinois PGA Championships, four Illinois Opens and an Illinois PGA Match Play Championship. In 2007, Small had an outstanding year on the national level. He finished as the low PGA Professional at the 89th PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club, qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, tied for runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship and made the cut at the Nationwide Tour LaSalle Bank Open. Additionally, he is the only member of the Illinois PGA Section to have won both the national championship (2005) and PGA Professional of the Year honors (2005, 2007).

“We are honored to have a professional of Mike’s caliber join our advisory staff,” said Marty Olinger, Vice President of Sales. “Mike will be an invaluable asset to us along so many different dimensions -- as a PGA member and professional, teacher, educator, talent evaluator and finally as a great player on the national level in his own right. Mike will be integral in helping us with our products, staff programs, collegiate programs and representing us in future major championships.”

In Small’s new Srixon bag will be the Z-UR series of high performance golf balls, the new I-701 Tour irons and WG-706 wedges.

“I was not looking to make a change in my equipment, but having been fortunate enough to play in some major championships the last couple of years, I couldn’t help but notice the success Srixon players were having,” said Small. “And when I hit the new 701 Tour irons I was convinced I needed to put them in my bag. With the combination of the Z-UR series golf balls and 701 irons, I was amazed at the consistency and control I was getting to fire at the pins, not to mention the distance off the tee. I can’t wait to get back on the course in 2008 as a member of the Srixon family.”

Small will be honored with his second PGA Professional Player of the Year award at the PGA Merchandise Show. He will also be a featured speaker during Srixon’s presentation at the PGA Equipment Forum at the PGA Merchandise Show on Friday, January 18, at 10:00 a.m.

Based in Huntington Beach, CA, Cleveland Golf / Srixon both enjoy a strong presence on the PGA TOUR as well as competitive tours worldwide. Cleveland Golf's staff includes Vijay Singh, Boo Weekley, David Howell, and many other players. The company was founded in 1979 and originally manufactured high quality replicas of classic golf clubs from the 1940s and 1950s, but soon earned the reputation as an innovative producer of original equipment in its own right. Cleveland Golf remains steadfastly committed to providing tour-proven, premium golf equipment to passionate golfers at prices that ensure optimal value to consumers. For more information about Cleveland Golf please visit www.clevelandgolf.com. SRIXON Sports USA, Inc. has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997. Srixon’s staff includes Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Karrie Webb, and many other players. SRIXON golf balls earned 26 tournament victories on multiple professional tours around the world in 2006. For more information about SRIXON please visit www.srixon.com. SRI Sports Limited owns both brands and is the number one golf club manufacturer in the world’s second largest market, Japan, and is one of the world’s leading patent holders in golf ball technology.

Based in Huntington Beach, CA, Never Compromise was founded in 1997. Never Compromise initially enjoyed a moderate amount of success on the various professional tours and it was during this period of time that Cleveland Golf took notice of this little putter company that was brimming with attitude and self-confidence. In June of 2003, Cleveland Golf purchased Never Compromise and has since re-launched it as a top-tier putter brand. Never Compromise enjoys a strong presence on the PGA TOUR, as well as competitive tours worldwide. Never Compromise staff includes Vijay Singh, Boo Weekley, Steve Flesch, and many other players. Never Compromise remains committed to providing tour-proven, premium putters to passionate golfers around the world. For more information about Never Compromise please visit www.nevercompromise.com.