Nike says Tiger uses customized golf ball

By David Kravets, Associated Press writer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tiger Woods, who endorses "Nike Tour Accuracy" golf balls in TV and magazine ads, really plays with custom-made balls unavailable to everyday duffers, Nike Inc. acknowledged yesterday after being sued in federal court.

Nike said the balls Woods uses for his monster swings that produce 300-plus-yard drives have a slightly harder inner and outer core than the balls sold to the public.

"Those two elements are slightly firmer than the marketed ball," said Mike Kelly, marketing director for Nike Golf.

Kelly said it's common practice in the golfing world to sell the public different products from what the pros really use.

"It's an industry practice to make minor specification changes to golf products: irons, putters and golf balls for tour players," Kelly said. "Slight specification and modifications need to be made to their equipment for their game."

Nike's acknowledgment came after a nonprofit group, Public Remedies Inc., filed a lawsuit claiming the Beaverton, Ore.-based company was engaging in misleading advertising practices. It asks that Nike's "ill-gotten gains" be restored to the public.

"Tiger Woods does not play the Nike Tour Accuracy golf ball, but instead plays one with a different composition and performance characteristics specially made for him ... and not available to the general public," the lawsuit said.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, did not return a call requesting comment on the lawsuit.

Other leading names in golf say their customers get exactly what their pros endorse.

Joe Gomes, a spokesman for Titleist, of Fairhaven, Mass., said its players use the same products they advertise. And if a player uses a "tweaked" version of a club, he said, a consumer could special order it.

"We are very particular about our advertisements. We don't make any claims that cannot be substantiated in both golf balls and clubs," Gomes said.

Callaway Golf of Carlsbad said if one of its golf pros says he uses a certain club, that identical club is available retail.

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