Mercedes-Benz Championship Preview

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz Championship tees off tomorrow and we have your preview of this years field, course overview, past winners and a look at the tournament favorites.

Losers need not apply as the exclusive field of 33 players is limited to 2008 PGA tournament winners.

Padraig Harrington And FootJoy - A Perfect Synr-G

FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf and #1 Shoe on every Tour Worldwide, announced today that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Padraig Harrington. Following a historic 2008 season in which he captured two major championships, was named PGA Tour Player of the Year and The European Tour Golfer of the Year, Harrington will add yet another "#1" to his resume when he laces up the #1 Shoe in Golf in 2009.

Harrington will wear the new SYNR-G shoe, which debuts January 1. A perfect combination of comfort and stability, SYNR-G is engineered for players such as Harrington who possess higher swing speeds and demand additional support and motion control in their golf shoes.

National Golf Products Introduces Enhanced

Continuing its philosophy of offering products that make real practice more affordable and accessible, National Golf Products (NGP) has introduced an enhanced version of The Radar -- its popular distance management system -- with personalized "banded" calibration and immediate readings on shots by players with any swing speed.

Callaway Golf Signs Stuart Appleby

Callaway Golf Company today announced the signing of PGA Tour veteran Stuart Appleby to a multi-year contract. Appleby, winner of eight PGA Tour events, will endorse all Callaway Golf equipment and golf balls, carry a Callaway Golf branded bag and feature the Company’s logo on his headwear.

Appleby, 37, recently completed a successful 2008 PGA Tour campaign that included a career-high seven Top 10 finishes and 14 tournaments in which he finished in the Top 25. In addition, he concluded the season playing some of his best golf, posting a Top 10 result at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, the season’s final playoff event.

Acushnet Company Announces Retail Exchange Program In Pro V1 Patent Dispute

Acushnet Company, the golf business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), announced that in relation to the ongoing patent dispute with Callaway Golf, it has initiated a product exchange program to eliminate any market confusion and minimize the business impact to retailers of the court injunction against certain Pro V1 products.

As previously announced, the production of existing Pro V1 model golf balls was converted in September to be outside the patents at issue. Acushnet began shipping the converted product to retailers in November. Acushnet has requested that, as of January 1, retailers sell only these converted Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls.

Nordqvist signs with Gaylord Sports Management

Anna Nordqvist, the current Ladies British Amateur champion who earned status for 2009 on the LPGA Tour, has turned professional and signed a management agreement with Gaylord Sports Management. Player Manager Ben Harrison will handle the Nordqvist account.

In Nordqvists` two years at Arizona State University she finished first or second in 10 of her 24 tournaments. She was the NCGA Freshman of the Year in 2007 and was twice a first-team All-American.