[3] Tiger and Titleist Drive to Fifth Consecutive Win At Mercedes Championships.

Sports Editors & Golf Writers

FAIRHAVEN, Mass.--(BW SportsWire)--Jan. 10, 2000

The only thing that stopped Tiger Woods' four-event winning streak last year was the end of the season. At the first official PGA Tour event of the new millennium, Tiger picked up where he left off, this time with a riveting playoff victory at the Mercedes Championships in Maui.

The momentous performance story of Tiger and Titleist golf equipment also continues. Trusting Titleist from tee to green, Tiger relies upon the advanced liquid filled center wound technology of the Titleist Professional golf ball; the solid, consistent feel and performance of Titleist irons, Titleist Titanium 975D driver, Titleist 3-wood and Vokey Design wedges; and the soft feel and precision of the Scotty Cameron by Titleist Pro Platinum putter. Tiger's 40-foot putt on the second playoff hole secured his fifth consecutive PGA Tour victory and his 8th win in his last 11 starts.

While victory was in doubt until Tiger's dramatic final putt, there was no question that Titleist would be the ball of choice for the winner. As Tiger and playoff participant Ernie Els dueled throughout the weekend, they both trusted their games to the Titleist Professional, the golf ball that recorded more victories across last year's worldwide professional tours than all other competitive golf balls combined. In addition, defending champion David Duval completed the Titleist Professional trifecta by finishing third, matching Tiger and Els' final round 5-under par 68's.

                    MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP 10 FINISHERS

TIGER WOODS       WINNER         TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
ERNIE ELS         2ND            TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
DAVID DUVAL       3RD            TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
MIKE WEIR         TIED 4TH       TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
Jim Furyk         Tied 4th       Other
CARLOS FRANCO     TIED 6TH       TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
JESPER PARNEVIK   TIED 6TH       TITLEIST TOUR PRESTIGE
BRAD FAXON        TIED 8TH       TITLEIST TOUR PRESTIGE
VIJAY SINGH       TIED 8TH       TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
TOM PERNICE, JR   TIED 8TH       TITLEIST PROFESSIONAL
Brent Geiberger   Tied 8th       Other
Paul Lawrie       Tied 8th       Other
Glen Day          Tied 8th       Other

                         MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS NOTES:

--   With 20 of the 30 players in the Mercedes Championships field
     relying upon the advanced liquid-filled center wound ball
     technology of Titleist, five times more players trusted Titleist
     than the nearest competitor with 4. Of the 13 players who
     finished among the top 10 and ties, 9 relied upon Titleist golf
     balls for their success.

--   Titleist Titanium was the choice of more top 10 finishers in the
     driver category than any other manufacturer. Six players,
     including Tiger Woods, David Duval and Brad Faxon, relied upon
     the Titleist Titanium 975D.

--   Titleist irons were also the choice of more top 10 finishers with
     5, including 3 of the top 5 finishers. Titleist tied for the most
     iron sets in the field with 7, including three of the new DCI
     990's.

--   Titleist led the sand, lob and approach wedge count with 21 in
     play, more than double its nearest competitor with 10. In
     addition to Tiger's reliance on the Titleist Vokey Design sand
     and lob wedges, 8 of the 13 players who were among the top 10 and
     ties had at least on Vokey Design wedge in their bag.

--   Scotty Cameron by Titleist was the overwhelming putter choice at
     the Merecedes Championships with more than half the field, 16 of
     30 players, trusting their putting games to Titleist. More than
     three times as many players relied upon Titleist putters compared
     to 5 for the nearest competitor, including 4 of the top 5
     finishers.

Like Tiger, Titleist continues its winning momentum. The world's best players demand the most from themselves and their equipment. That's why many of the world's best choose Titleist, Golf's Symbol of Excellence.

Titleist and FootJoy Worldwide and Cobra Golf Incorporated comprise the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO). For more information, please contact Joe Gomes, Senior Communications Manager (508-979-3211).