⏲ 03 April 2019, 14:10 (BST) TaylorMade Assembles Tour Staff Roster with New Team TaylorMade signings of 2019

TaylorMade Golf Announces Seven Athletes to Join their European Tour Staff to Complete Team TaylorMade Roster for 2019.

Basingstoke, Hants (03, April, 2019) – TaylorMade Golf Company, an industry leader in product innovation and technology, announced today the signings of some of the youngest and hottest prospects on the European Tour to play TaylorMade equipment from 2019. With an average age in the mid 20’s they join an already incredibly talented stable of athletes on the European Tour and finalise TeamTaylorMade for 2019.

Kim Koivu required only 14 starts on the to secure his card after his third win, which came at the Rolex Trophy, gained him automatic qualification to the main Tour. He then went on to show he is at home on the European Tour with 2 top 10’s on the main tour before 2018 was out. Koivu joins TeamTaylorMade and will be armed with a full bag of TaylorMade equipment and TP5 golf ball. Kristoffer Reitan Reitan secured his debut season on the European Tour in 2018 as the only amateur to make the Final Stage at the , thus earning his card, and will play a full bag of TaylorMade clubs and TP5x golf ball. He qualified for the 2018 US Open where he was the lone amateur to qualify out of the Surrey, sectional qualifying posting 6-under 138 at Walton Heath Golf Club. Reitan also competed for last summer in the 2018 European Team Championship. Reitan had a full scholarship offer to attend the University of Texas but decided to dedicate himself to his dream of becoming a Pro. Also joining TeamTaylorMade with a full bag of TaylorMade equipment and golf ball is Kurt Kitayama who is a Californian native who turned pro in 2015. Kitayama won Qualifying School First Stage Europe Section D at Golf d’Hardelot and secured his European Tour card for 2019 after finishing tied third at the Final Stage. Kitayama then went on to win his first European Tour title in only his third start at the AfrAsia Bank Open in December 2018 before quickly earning his second title soon after at the Open in March 2019. He has also played in the Web.com Tour and . Kitayama was named the Northern California Player of the Year in 2009 and was on the Junior America’s Cup team in 2009 and 2010. Oliver Gillberg Oliver Gillberg joins TeamTaylorMade after his biggest amateur title at the 2018 South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship which led him to turn pro in September 2018. Gillberg’s excellent string of amateur performances in 2018 led him to rise to no.7 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and he was rewarded with selection to represent the Continent of Europe in the prestigious Bonallock Trophy. Gillberg will also play a full bag of TaylorMade products and TP5 golf ball. Joël Stalter A native of North-East Joël Stalter shone as an amateur, becoming the highest rank amateur in France, winning the Austrian Amateur in 2011, and then embarking on a stellar career whilst studying at the University of California Berkley, during which Stalter amassed five tournament wins and became a two time All-American. Turing professional in 2014, once graduating from University, Stalter commenced his career on the Challenge Tour. He earned his first professional win in 2016 at the , overcoming a playoff against two competitors. Stalter will play a full bag of TaylorMade equipment, accompanied by the TP5x golf ball. Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Hojgaard Identical twins, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, are a talented 18-year-old duo who individually are among the most exciting young prospects in world golf. Both have put their trust in TaylorMade equipment following a successful past 18 months which saw them win multiple times on the international amateur circuit including leading to their countries first Eisenhower Trophy title in the World Amateur Team Championship.

In 2018, Nicolai, rose to no.5 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings which placed him as the highest ranked junior in world golf. He holds the 2018 European Amateur Championship title which led him to qualify for at Carnoustie in 2018.

Rasmus has a host of international victories to his name, highlighted with winning the 2018 Junior Golf World Cup, where his twin brother finished runner up. He also joined Gillberg in representing Europe in the Bonallock Trophy.

Both have already gained experience playing on the European Tour and competed together as part of Team Europe in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup, the first siblings to play in the Junior Ryder Cup. Both will play a full bag of TaylorMade equipment with both choosing to play the TP5 ball. “It is extremely important for a performance brand like TaylorMade Golf to have Tour validation for its products. We are committed to not only having representation but also ensuring that the future of Team TaylorMade on tour is in good hands. I have no doubt that these best in class players that we have representing us on both the PGA TOUR and European tour have the edge in performance by choosing TaylorMade. We at TaylorMade are also committed to developing the next generation of golfing superstars and seeing so many of our young talented prospects breaking through to compete at the highest level is testament to our programs and support at every level of elite golf. I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of our staff players the best for 2019 and looking forward to a successful year ahead representing TeamTaylorMade.” — Adrian Rietveld, Senior Manager – TaylorMade Tour Department

For more information on our TaylorMade Tour Staff or any other media requests, please contact the TaylorMade communications team. James Smith PR & Communications Manager EMEA [email protected] +44 (0) 1256 408768

Emma Tayler Marketing & Communications Executive EMEA [email protected] +44 (0) 1256 408639

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Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade Golf is a leading manufacturer of high performance golf equipment with industry-leading innovative products like M5/M6 metalwoods, M5/M6 irons and TP5/TP5X golf balls. TaylorMade is the #1 Driver in Golf and also a major force on the PGA TOUR with one of the strongest athlete portfolios in golf, that includes , Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, , Rickie Fowler and .

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