2010 novelties of Swiss brand watch Piaget at the Mandarin Oriental

News From Power Balance

Swiss luxury brand Piaget watch, well-known for its high-jewellery timepieces and complicated watches, had its launch party to introduce the 2010 novelties at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok last week.

The launch event was hosted by Thomas Bouillonnec, general manager of Piaget Southeast Asia, together with Suthin Jiramaneekul, managing director of S.T. Dimension, Piaget exclusive distributor in Thailand.

Highlight of the launch was the unveiling of three new timepieces from the Piaget "Unique Art of Enamelling" collection. They are the large model of Piaget Altiplano with Laeliocattleya, the large model of Piaget Miss Protocole with butterfly motif, and the Piaget Altiplano with translucent grey-green enamel designed for men.

Enamel has been used to embellish jewellery and other gold adornments since ancient times. Watchmakers adopted enamel from the 15th century onwards. From then on, craftsmen perpetually fine-tuned their techniques to the point of developing four distinct methods: champleve, cloisonne, flinque and miniature enamelling.

Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget has revived the art of enamelling over the previous century. The brand uses this artistic craft to create only one-of-a-kind or limited edition pieces, with painters, glaziers and master enamellers decorating the watch dials and cases with incredible finesse.

The large model Piaget Altiplano is housed within an 18-carat white gold case set with brilliant-cut diamonds and equipped with Piaget 430P ultra-thin mechanical movement. On the dial is the Irene yellow Laeliocattleya orchid, painted using the technique of miniature enamelling. Beneath the flower lies a finely hand-guilloche base coated with a layer of translucent enamel according to the flinque technique.

The large model Piaget Miss Protocole comes with a beautiful butterfly motif. The watch is housed in an 18-carat white gold case adorned with champleve enamel and set with 324 brilliant-cut diamonds and the Piaget 57P quartz movement. It is available in a limited edition of only 10 pieces.

The men model's Piaget Altiplano is housed in an 18-carat white gold, 38mm case. It features a flinque dial that exhibits exquisite guilloche work beneath a shimmering veil of translucent grey-green enamel. It beats to the rhythm of an ultra-thin Piaget 430P mechanical movement measuring 2.1mm thick.

Also showcased at the event was Piaget 2010 novelties featuring eight new watches - two for gentlemen and six for ladies.

See more news or want to buy Brand watches, please visit:  http://www.brand-watch-supplier.com/

Acushnet's Titleist and FootJoy brands went back to track on its business

What do Jim Beam bourbon, Moen bathroom sinks and Titleist Pro V1 golf balls have in common? They're all a part of Fortune Brands, but not for long. The company announced Tuesday that it will split into three different parts.

In a media release, Fortune Brands said it plans to become "an independent, publicly-traded company focused solely on its distilled spirits business." The release went on to say that the company plans to sell or spin off the Acushnet Co., it's golf business, which makes Titleist balls, clubs and accessories, as well as Movado Watches and power balance.

The CNNMoney video below explains some of the reasons why Fortune has decided to break up.

Golfers learning this news might logically have a few questions, so here are a few answers.

Will I be able to keep buying Titleist golf clubs and balls?

Yes, it's going to be business as usual at Titleist and FootJoy until the completion of a deal is finalized. In its release, Fortune Brands said its board of directors "has directed management to develop detailed separation plans for consideration and final approval by the Board. The company expects to complete development of these plans — including the structure, timing, and other related matters for each business — within the next several months."

In other words, nothing is going to change in the immediate future.

Titleist recently released its 910 line of woods and gave prototype Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls to its staff professionals to play. An updated Pro V1 and Pro V1x are expected to be released in early 2011.

If Acushnet gets sold, who would buy it?

Fortune Brands' release states that Acushnet has annual sales of $1.2 billion, so anyone looking to buy the company needs to have deep pockets.

One possible buyer could be a private equity firm. Another could be a large company already in the golf business. However, if a company like Callaway, Nike, Adidas or Bridgestone wanted to buy Acushnet, it could present anti-trust and intellectual property issues.

Source from: http://www.brand-watch-supplier.com/

The best hope of New Zealanders in next PGA Tour

By Power Balance.

Josh Geary (whose favorite brand is TaylorMade) is believed to be the best hope among the New Zealanders looking to claim a place on next year's PGA Tour.

In the last round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida on Sunday (NZT) he had a share of 33rd place, two shots outside the mark for the top 25 players who will earn full playing rights to the PGA tour.

He shot a one-over 72 with two straight birdies and three dropped shots.

Danny Lee shot a one-over par at Panther Lake to be tied for 44th place, five-under pay while Tim Wilkinson shot a one-over par 72 to slip back to a share of 74th which is on the qualification for the Nationwide Tour.

Geary said he was hitting the ball well in the windy conditions but failed to take advantage on the greens.

"Physically I am standing up well. Mentally, it's obviously been a bit tough when you hit the ball so well and don't get much from it. That can get a bit frustrating," he said.

He added he wouldn't change his approach on the last day and he was looking forward to being back at the Crooked Cat course for the final round.

"It is definitely the scoring course and if it is calm there will be some low numbers. I am definitely feeling very confident. The last three days I have hit the ball pretty well and haven't really done the job on the greens," he said.

"I figure I am going to need to hit five or six under. You can't really control what is going to happen. I've got to give myself a chance to play well and then the rest is up to fate I guess," he said.

On the Japanese Tour, Auckland's Richard Lee shot a four-under 68 to move to 13-under par and a share of sixth place with two rounds remaining.

Source from: www.golf-equipment2u.com

Harrington shoots 66 for 1-shot lead in Sun City

News by Power Balance.

Padraig Harrington led the Nedbank Golf Challenge by one stroke after picking up five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 6-under 66 Thursday in the opening round.

The Irishman’s first birdie came on No. 8, and he made seven in his last 11 holes to overtake Ross Fisher of England at the Gary Player Country Golf Club in Sun City.

AP - Dec 1, 11:29 am EST 1 of 11 Golf Gallery Fisher led at 7 under before a double bogey at No. 17, just before play was suspended for nearly two hours because of rain and lightning.

Top-ranked Lee Westwood shot a 68 after overcoming a slow start. The Englishman had five pars and a bogey before finding his range with five birdies in eight holes from No. 7.

Harrington, ranked No. 22 with his only win in 2010 on the Asian Tour, was wayward early and had to hit two provisional shots on the par-5 No. 2. But the three-time major winner kept making pars until holing four successive birdies from the eighth hole.

“I am very happy with that,” Harrington said. “I do not feel on top of my game, but I’m going to have to use all my grit over the next three days … it is going to be some good golf and some bad golf. But if I work at it, I can do the job.”

Westwood’s sole bogey came on the par-4 No. 6, but he added a birdie to kickstart his challenge.

“It was good to bounce back straight away and I played pretty solidly from there on in,” he said. “All in all, I’m quite pleased—68 is a nice way to start. I enjoy playing here, it suits my eye.”

Five Europeans—the top four all Ryder Cup winners—occupy the top six places at Sun City.

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain shot a 69, defending champion Robert Allenby of Australia and Justin Rose of England are tied after shooting 70s.

The enthusiastic South African fans, who regard the Nedbank as “Africa’s major,” received little joy from their four home golfers.

Three-time winner Ernie Els and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen had 71s. Retief Goosen shot a 72, while Tim Clark had a 73 after making a triple-bogey seven at No. 6.

Source from: http://www.golf-equipment2u.com/

Nedbank Challenge-----World’s best line-up

Report from Power Balance.
Prize-money for the 12 world-class golfers in the Nedbank Golf Challenge beginning tomorrow is paid out in US dollars, with $1,25-million going to the winner, $660 000 for the runner-up and all the way down to a “mere” $250 000 for the player who comes last in the 12-man line-up.
Converting these figures into South African currency, it works out to be shade under R9-million for the individual who on Sunday will be crowned champion on the 18th green at the fabulous Gary Player Country Club. Second place is worth a substantial R4,75-m and for the player propping up the field, and perhaps struggling with his game by his own high standards, R1,8-m doesn’t sound half bad.
If there’s a play-off a single little putt could be worth over R4-million – the difference between first and second place. So much money at stake does seem almost absurd, all for hitting a little white ball into a little hole.
Yet big-time golf – as with a number of other sports at the highest level – works, in the sense that the fans love it, as do the television stations and indeed the sponsors.
It is said that only four percent of golfers who try and make a living out of playing golf actually can earn their favorite golf clubs. But for the likes of the 12 stars assembled here for the 30th edition of the tournament, the game has already earned them a fortune, and will continue to do so as they are masters of their class, and entertainers par-excellence.
To have England’s new world No 1 Lee Westwood heading the field is a coup for the tournament while home crowd favourite Ernie Els is back after skipping the event last year. “Me, I’ve been coming here for quite a large part of the 30-year history,” said the big man. “I made my debut in 1992 and this year will be my 17th appearance. In that time I’ve won the tournament three times and twice finished runner-up.
“I have to say it’s a tournament I look forward to. It should be a good week and hopefully I can notch up win No 4 in 2010,” said Els who has already posted victories this year in the WGC-CA Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Grand Slam of Golf. At 41, he’s still capable of shooting the lights out.
South Africans fans are well served this week with Retief Goosen, Tim Clark and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen – coming off a solid performance in last week’s Dubai World Championship – in the line-up.
Defending champion Robert Allenby of Australia, Westwood’s countrymen Ross Fisher and Justin Rose, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, Ireland’s golfing workaholic Padraig Harrington, Denmark’s Anders Hansen and one of the game’s great characters, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, complete the line-up.
Nick Faldo once described three-time Major champion Harrington, who has an obsessive-compulsive fixation with long hours of practice, as “the golfer who has hit more balls with their super golf equipment than potatoes have been planted in Ireland”.
With his substantial belly, crickly pony-tail, round-house swing and cigar dangling out of his mouth, Jimenez doesn’t exactly look like an athlete. But he certainly can play golf, and in spite of being 46 now he’s won three times on the European Tour this year.
All 12 can turn on the magic, that’s why they’re here at Sun City. Are they worth all the money they’re being paid? It’s a moot point, but one thing is for sure – the tens of thousands of fans who will visit Sun City to watch the golf from tomorrow through until Sunday are in for some high-class entertainment.
As a special feature for the 30th anniversary of the tournament, eight Champions Tour stars will tee off from 10.10am tomorrow and on Friday in a separate 36-hole tournament that will also attract some serious attention. Nick Price and David Frost (both three-time Nedbank champions), Mark McNulty and Fulton Allem are the southern Africans involved, with Americans Fred Funk, Jay Haas, Tommy Armour III and Jeff Sluman the other four players.
Source from: http://www.golf-equipment2u.com/

'Golf nerd' Tiger Woods sure to survive------Ogilvy

Report from Power Balance.

It is believed by Geoff Ogilvy Tiger Woods is too much a "golf nerd" not to emerge from his slump and at least match Jack Nicklaus's all-time record 18 majors.

As he endured the first winless season of his 15-year pro career, Woods stalled on 14 majors and relinquished his world No.1 ranking to Englishman Lee Westwood.

Ogilvy, though, senses the American superstar has rediscovered his love for the game since linking with Canadian coach Sean Foley and says it's inevitable Woods will win "four, five or six more majors".

"At the end of the day, he's a bit of a nerd about the golf swing," Ogilvy said on the eve of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

"There's plenty of people that are just technique nerds and they just think about golf all the time and do the video and study everybody else's swing and he's that guy - and he's found a coach who's a kindred spirit and all they want to do is talk about golf swings.

"He's very excited ... I think Tiger will be okay.

"When you've got stuff going on off the course that's taking your mind off golf, golf is very difficult and he obviously had some pretty heavy things going on in his head this year.

"That is probably why he didn't perform like he was before (but) he's the best player in the world on any given day holding his beloved golf clubs and golf gloves.

"He might never have that complete domination that he did before, but he's still going to win a bunch of tournaments. He's still the best player in the world when he susses it out, so there's still plenty of good stuff to come."

Specifically, Ogilvy believes Woods will resume cashing in at the majors when he regains his supreme touch on the greens.

"(It is) all about putting and he didn't hole putts this year and that's why he didn't win," Australia's 2006 US Open champion said.

"I'm sure once the interference dies down (with his private life), he'll start holing putts again and I'm sure he'll go onto great things again.

"I don't think he'll be the same player again, but that doesn't mean he won't get four, five or six more majors."

Asked if Woods was the king nerd of golf, Ogilvy said: "He's up there with the best".

"But there's lots of golf nerds out there. It's a never-ending research if you really want to get into it.

"If you go up and down the range any day, for every Craig Parry there's two guys who are You Tubing Ben Hogan's swing at night, stuff like that.

"Together with the coaches as, it's just part of the game. It's indeed a very good game to analyze."

Source from: http://www.golf-equipment2u.com/

Just A test to the Open golfers in the Big wet

Report from Power Balance.

Masters champion Stuart Appleby believes Sydney's big wet will test Australian Open hopefuls "beyond our capabilities" at the waterlogged Lakes golf course.

Tournament officials were anxiously hoping the Open would begin as scheduled on Thursday but were also bracing for the prospect of the first Friday start since Greg Norman prevailed at Royal Melbourne in 1985.

A quarter of a century later and Appleby says the 156-player field should prepare for some of the foulest conditions of their careers after Sydney copped more than 50 millimetres of rain between 10pm Tuesday and 2pm Wednesday.

"Potentially, I've never seen weather like this that we could actually play in," Appleby said after Wednesday's pro-am was declared a washout.

In addition to the first, 10th and 11th fairways being flooded, tournament director Trevor Herden said the fifth and sixth greens were unplayable and "there are a few others getting close".

Herden conceded it was "touch and go" whether or not the first round would have gone ahead had the Open been scheduled to start on Wednesday.

"There are some spots where you could play but there are a lot of wet areas on the golf course," he said.

"The ground is saturated and the water can't soak through."

Course superintendent Russell Fletcher has had to double his ground staff to more than 30 to cope with the deluge but Herden remained "confident" players wouldn't have to endure 36 holes on Friday - provided the rain eased.

"We have some issues but the green staff are working and hopefully this band of rain will get out of here with a nor' easter coming through tomorrow," he said.

"We have an interesting forecast with an average of 35km/h winds tomorrow. That in itself will be a good test."

Appleby, who reigned in the rain to win the Australian Masters last month at the Victoria GC, feared the dire conditions would prove more than a test.

"We are expecting something very unusual even for Sydney," he said.

"This is potentially an all-day affair or all-week affair. It is going to be very testing. I hope we get done by Sunday.

"The course is playable, which is not good because we are caught out here in this weather, potentially ... as a player, this is beyond our capabilities of how we can play.

"Potentially, I have never seen weather like this that we actually could play in."

The extreme weather aside, players will also have to contend with the remodelled Lakes layout for the first time.

Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy labelled the new-look Lakes a thinker's course and said, coupled with the wind and rain, the player who best adapted to the wretched conditions would win.

"It's matter of managing your caddie and your golf equipment and keeping your towels dry and staying patient and remembering when it's really difficult that no one else is having fun out there," Ogilvy told AAP.

"Realising everyone is going to find it tricky too and that 72 holes is a long time.

"And playing it smart. Hitting to the right spots on the fairways and missing the greens in the right spots. Missing in the wrong spots can make it almost impossible.

"Sometimes you don't need to these days, but around here you're going to need to use your brain, which will be fun."

Source from: http://www.golf-equipment2u.com/