CHICAGO — Wilson Staff professional D.J. Trahan made his mark early in the 2008 PGA TOUR season with a Sunday charge that led to victory at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, a longtime pro-am style tournament. Trahan fired a final-round, 7-under 65 at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif., to beat Justin Leonard by three strokes. He finished the 90-hole tournament at 26-under 334, earning his biggest payday, $918,000, and a berth in this year's Masters.
The 27-year-old Trahan, who joined the TOUR in 2005, used prototype Wilson Staff Fg59 irons, named after the total of major championships (59) won with Wilson irons, a number that far exceeds any other iron in history. The Fg59 forged blade joins the Pi and Ci irons to become the third Wilson Staff iron to win on worldwide professional tours in the last 12 months. Preceding his victory at the Bob Hope, Trahan recorded three top-10 finishes in 2007 and claimed his first TOUR title at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2006.
“This is a big win for D.J. and a big win for our brand,” said Tim Clarke, general manager of Wilson Golf. “We are focused on growing the Wilson Staff stable of national and international professional tour players, anchored by reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington. Our history in sports overall and in golf specifically is rich, and D.J.’s victory is a testament to Wilson Golf’s legacy of quality and innovation.”
Trahan’s win adds to the buzz generated by Wilson Golf during the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Among the new product innovations showcased at the Show were the Pi7 (TOUR-proven performance) and Ci7 (Control) iron series; the FYbrid family of long-distance fairway utility clubs; and the Wilson Staff Zip ball, which features the world’s first zero compression core and was recently awarded a gold rating on Golf Digest’s 2008 “Hot List.”
About Wilson Golf
For more than 90 years, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. The Wilson Staff, ProStaff, Ultra and Hope consumer brands continue that tradition today by delivering the highest quality golf equipment to enhance performance on the golf course and overall enjoyment of the game for all golfers.
Wilson Golf is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sporting equipment by Amer Sports. Visit http://www.wilsongolf.com