The game’s two biggest stars commit to helping Bridgestone win on the course and in the R&D lab for years to come
(AUGUSTA, GA) – Bridgestone Golf – The leader in golf ball technology and innovation continued its significant investment into R&D by re-signing the biggest stars in the game, Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau, to long-term contract extensions. Both players have won major championships with Bridgestone TOUR B golf balls (Tiger at the ’19 Masters with TOUR B XS, Bryson at the ’20 US Open with TOUR B X) and will continue to play their respective models of choice and contribute to the development of new designs for the foreseeable future.
“These two players are not only the biggest names in golf today, but also happen to be extremely discerning and analytical when it comes to equipment,” said Dan Murphy, President and CEO of Bridgestone Golf. “Tiger’s involvement in the R&D process was critical to the development of our breakthrough REACTIV cover technology, and Bryson is just as enthusiastic about participating in R&D as any one of our engineers. That’s the difference with Bridgestone,” said Murphy.
US Open champ Bryson DeChambeau commented, “I’ve seen a lot of other guys sign up just to be spokesmen for a brand and collect a check. I have a much deeper role in mind with Bridgestone. I want to be a bigger part of their R&D process and help develop golf ball technology for the future of the game while pushing the limits of golf ball designs to benefit the full spectrum of players. I feel at home there because of their genuine commitment to science and technology.”
Tiger’s new contract extends a long, successful track-record with Bridgestone, the brand that has manufactured his golf ball for the better part of 20 years. “I can play any ball I want, and the TOUR B XS is my clear choice,” said the 15-time Major champ. “I got a big comeback win at the ’18 Tour Championship, my 15th Major win, at last year’s Masters, and my record-tying 82nd PGA Tour win at the inaugural ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, all with Bridgestone. To continue this partnership is a cornerstone of my success.”
While the accomplishments for Tiger since he officially signed with Bridgestone Golf in 2016 are impressive, he’s actually been playing a ball manufactured by Bridgestone since he won The Memorial Tournament during the 2000 season. Later that year he went on to win The US Open, the Open Championship, The PGA Championship, the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, and The Canadian Open. Of course, he famously completed the “Tiger Slam,” the next year at The Masters, capping off what many consider the most impressive run in the history of the sport.
Bryson’s new contract extends his relationship with Bridgestone Golf significantly. He first started experimenting with Bridgestone balls during his time in college when he realized that the other brands he was playing were unbalanced and inconsistent. After a good deal of testing on his own he determined Bridgestone provided the most consistent quality available and put their ball in play, eventually winning Low Amateur honors at the ’16 Masters Tournament. Since then he’s amassed an impressive record, capturing nine professional wins with Bridgestone golf balls, including the US Open at Winged Foot earlier this summer.
“I’m meticulous about everything I do in golf, and my attention to the ball I play is no exception,” said DeChambeau. “I’ve conducted extensive testing with every competitive model available today, and the TOUR B X provides the best and most consistent overall performance. Not only does it produce massive ball speeds with the driver, but it also performs equally well from the rough and around the greens. As a bonus it feels and rolls great with my putter as well.”
It’s important to note that the newly minted Major champion is exceptionally passionate about the R&D process and indicated that he wants to be even more involved as he moves forward in his relationship with the Georgia-based manufacturer.
“I love experimentation and research and Bridgestone’s engineers and designers are incredible to work with,” said DeChambeau. “I love the process and look forward to helping them develop new and superior products for many years.”
For more information on Bridgestone Golf’s award-winning TOUR B family of golf balls and the entire Tour team that relies upon them, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
About Bridgestone Golf
Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over 2.1 million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection and its V-FIT video ball fitting. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.
