Callaway Reveals Full Line-Up of European Staff Professionals for 2014

Callaway Golf today announces its full 2014 European Staff Professional line-up, including Swedish star Henrik Stenson – the current World Number Three and first player to win both The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup in the same season – and Italian ace and four time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero.

Nick Raffaele, Vice President, Global Sports Marketing, Callaway Golf, said: “I have known of Henrik’s talent since 2001 when he was a rookie and joined The European Tour. It has been fun to watch his career evolve into what it is today, but more importantly, Henrik is just a quality person. Everyone at Callaway is extremely excited to be reunited with Henrik as part of the company again.”

Neil Howie, President and Managing Director of Callaway Golf EMEA,, said: “It is real testament to our R&D team that world class players such as, Henrik and Matteo, have chosen to use Callaway product to challenge for golf’s major titles. We are hugely excited to welcome so much standout Tour talent to the Callaway family. Our signings are reflective of the more youthful, contemporary direction we are taking with the overall brand and we are confident that 2014 is going to be a memorable Callaway year.”

Henrik Stenson

Henrik enjoyed an incredible season in 2013, winning over €4million on The European Tour and $6million on the PGA Tour. He also had his highest finish in a Major – finishing runner-up to fellow Callaway Staff Professional, Phil Mickelson, at The 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.

On the PGA Tour, Henrik won twice last year, claiming the Deutsch Bank Championship and the Tour Championship, whilst also winning the finale to The European Tour season, the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Stenson said of the signing: "After having the best season of my career to date in 2013 using Callaway irons and fairway woods, the option of extending my relationship with Callaway Golf was a very natural progression, and I look forward to continued success in 2014 being back as part of the Callaway family."

Matteo Manassero

Twenty-year-old Manassero from Como, Italy, becomes a full Callaway Golf player after winning the biggest title of his career – the BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event of The European Tour – in May 2013. Matteo was also previously the youngest winner in European Tour history thanks to his victory in the 2010 Castelló Masters at 17 years and 188 days.

However, the young Italian was already making headlines before turning pro. He was the youngest – and first Italian – to win the Amateur Championship in 2009, and in the same year became the youngest winner of the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur in The Open Championship at Turnberry. He also became the youngest player to make the cut at the US Masters, where he finished 36th in 2010 – the best performance by a European amateur for 73 years.

Matteo commented: “After testing lots of different products, I am very happy to be joining Callaway Golf and I am really excited to use their whole range of equipment. I'm really impressed with everything so far and the Callaway Team has been fantastic. I'm looking forward to starting the 2014 season with my new clubs at Volvo Golf Champions this week.”

Thomas Pieters

Belgian Thomas is tipped as one of the stars of the future and progressed through all three stages of the 2013 Qualifying School, taking the 20th card at the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort, Spain. Thomas turned pro in June 2013 after a strong amateur college career in America, which included wining the NCAA Division 1 Golf Championship in his second year at the University of Illinois.

Haydn Porteous

The 19-year-old from Modderfontein, was South Africa’s #1 Amateur and is also tipped to be one of the future stars of The European Tour. He has previously won the South African Stroke Play Championship as an amateur and also made his debut at the World Amateur Team Championships in 2012.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

Already a winner on The European Tour, capturing last season’s Maybank Malaysian Open, Kiradech turned professional in 2008, starting his career on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Jack Doherty

After turning professional 10 years ago, Jack’s perseverance has finally earned him a European Tour card.  He took the 25th card at the Qualifying School Final Stage, earning a rookie season on The European Tour at the age of 31. As a top amateur, Jack won some important titles including the Australian Amateur Championship and the Welsh Stroke Play Championship. He was born in Australia but moved back to his parents’ homeland of Scotland when he was 10-years-old, representing the country at all levels from the age of 15.

Chris Doak

Chris maintained his place on the 2014 European Tour after finishing tied 8th in last year’s Portugal Masters and 12th at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Whilst on the Challenge Tour, he won his maiden title at the 2012 ALLIANZ Open de Lyon, en route to securing his return to The European Tour after a season-ending 10th in the rankings.

James Morrison

Claimed the 11th card at the Qualifying School Final Stage to retain his place on The European Tour in 2014. He kept his playing rights in the three seasons before that, having graduated via the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2009.

The full rundown of Callaway’s 2014 men’s European Staff Player line-up reads: Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn, Nicolas Colsearts, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gary Boyd, Kristoffer Broberg, Chris Doak, Jack Doherty, Nick Dougherty, Branden Grace, Emiliano Grillo, David Horsey, Pablo Larrázabal, Craig Lee, Matteo Manassero, James Morrison, Garth Mulroy, Alex Noren, Andrea Pavan, Thomas Pieters, Haydn Porteous, Alvaro Quiros, Jeev Milkha Singh, Marc Warren and Danny Willett.

For more information about Callaway Staff Professionals visit: www.callawaygolf.com

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