Wilson Staff Advisory Board Member Padraig Harrington's Win On Home Turf At Irish Open Is First By An Irishman In Tournament's 25 Year History

New Dd6 Driver Helped 12th Ranked Golfer in the World to Capture Title

Chicago, IL, May 21, 2007 – Wilson Staff Advisory Board Member Padraig Harrington achieved one of his lifetime goals yesterday when he became the first home player to win the Irish Open title in the tournament’s 25 year history at Adare Manor Hotel & Country Club, Co. Limerick.

Playing with the new Wilson Staff Dd6 driver, the world’s 12th ranked golfer recovered from the “body-blow” of seeing his lead snatched away by Welshman Bradley Dredge on the 17th hole by taking the title on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off. Both players had earlier finished regulation play at 5-under-par, four shots ahead of the field by parring the final hole of regulation play.

“After the four Majors, this is without a doubt the most important tournament for me to win,” said Harrington as he lifted the trophy. As thousands of Irish golf fans acclaimed his victory, he also admitted he had been very nervous playing in front of such a passionate crowd.

Harrington knew, however, that he could always rely on his Dd6 driver having averaged 313 yards on his drives during the final round. He also combined the driver with his Dh6 hybrid club to set up a birdie and an eagle at the two front nine par-5 holes to extend his overnight lead.

With his 11th win on the European Tour, Europe’s reigning No.1 golfer’s earnings for the year-to-date total more than £600,000 and third spot on the Order of Merit, which Harrington won in 2006.

“Padraig had a great season last year and is going from strength to strength with his new Dd6 driver,” said Tim Clarke, General Manager, Wilson Golf. “He’s so confident with the club off the tee and is consistently hitting some drives around the 300 yard mark to give himself a great chance of birdie or better.”

“We use radar tracking technology to identify the best shaft options and Padraig has combined a Harrison Striper Long Drive shaft with the Dd6 clubhead,” said Clarke. “At 47 inches long, this shaft is at least one and a half inches longer than the shaft most pros would use. Like all the top players, he is always looking for a driver that can give him another five yards off the tee. The Dd6 not only delivers extra length and power, but it’s so forgiving it allows him to be incredibly accurate as well.”

What makes the Dd6 driver special is Wilson’s Energy Transfer Frame (ETF) Technology that more than doubles the optimal hitting area on the face. ETF Technology harnesses lost energy at impact and redirects it to the club face to create a larger Hot Zone, the area on the club face where at impact the ball reacts with maximum allowable velocity by USGA standards.

The Dd6 driver has an MSRP of $399.99 and is available nationwide. Further information on the complete line of Wilson Staff clubs can be found at www.wilsonstaff.com.

Harrington is the second Wilson Staff player to win a Tour title this season. Austria’s Markus Brier won the Volvo China Open last month, having also captured his national title for the first time last season.

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 all golfers to enhance performance on the golf course and overall enjoyment of the game.

Wilson Golf is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sports equipment by Amer Sports. Consumers can log onto www.wilsongolf.com or call 773-714-6400 for more information.