TaylorMade staff players Darren Clarke and Justin Rose will be among 12 pros in the field at this week's PGA Championship to use personalized TP golf balls.
The TaylorMade TP Red and TP Black golf balls will sport one- or two-digit numbers as chosen by the players.
"Justin Rose is 99 because his wife's lucky number is 9, and he figured it was double the luck," said Scott Leightman, TaylorMade's Director of Public Relations. "Darren Clarke is number 60, because that's the lowest score he's ever shot - he's done it twice."
In addition to Rose and Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Sean O'Hair and Jim Estes - as well as six club pros - will use personalized balls. During PGA week, each professional with a customized "My TP Ball" will carry a staff bag with the number embroidered on it.
Eric Dugas has chosen #11 because it was his jersey number in every sport he played growing up. Rick Leibovich likes seeing "00" on his ball. Eric Manning uses #74 because his daughter was born on July 4. PGA club pros Kyle Flinton, Peter Hedblom and Jeff Martin also are using customized numbers.
The balls provided to players for use on the range will also be customized.
"It's going to launch this week at the PGA Championship," Leightman said. "The balls on the range this week are number 90, in honor of the 90th PGA Championship."
While the company will roll out its "My TP Ball" program to pros at Oakland Hills, golfers of all levels the chance to get TaylorMade TP Red and TP Black golf balls with the number of their choosing. There are 110 combinations possible - from 0 to 99 and 00 to 09.
At the mytpball.com web site, which will go live this week, golfers can order a minimum of three dozen balls with their preferred number. Then, consumers print and take their order to a designated retailer. TaylorMade will create the customized balls within seven days of receiving the order.
The web site will feature stories from other customers, celebrities and professionals about the numbers they have chosen and why.
