Karsten signs Oosterhuis to Ping worldwide tour staff

Phoenix, Arizona - Six-time European Ryder Cup team member and CBS television golf analyst Peter Oosterhuis has been signed to represent Karsten Manufacturing Corporation and Ping golf equipment on the company's worldwide tour staff.

John A. Solheim, Karsten Manufacturing president, reports that Oosterhuis will fill a dual role of handling television and video assignments for the company while playing the PGA Senior Tour.

"Oosterhuis brings to Karsten an exceptional on-camera speaking talent that, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the game of golf, will lend a new dimension to our company's tour and marketing-communications activities," said Solheim.

Among his assignments at Karsten, Oosterhuis will host a long-form video program for use in a variety of industry applications. His voice will be on a new Ping gold putter commercial highlighting the continued success of Karsten's putters at major championships.

One of Britain's leading players in the decade of the 1970's, Oosterhuis led the PGA European Tour Order of Merit four consecutive seasons (1971-1974), a record that stood for 23 years. A winner of 19 international events, he won the Italian Open, two French Open titles, the British PGA Championship as well as the Canadian Open on the PGA Tour.

Oosterhuis, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife Ruth Ann, was runnerup in both the 1974 and 1982 Open Championships. He left tournament golf to become director of golf at Forsgate CC, New Jersey, from 1987 to 1990, and held a similar position in 1991-1992 at Riviera CC, Los Angeles, Calif.

The 6-foot, 5-inch former Walker Cupper returned to England in 1993 where he combined an administration position at Stockley Park GC with his debut in television golf commentary at Sky Sports.

"It was a classic case of being at the right place at the right time," said Oosterhuis. "My tournament experience was a very valuable asset. I knew the players and what they were feeling under various competitive conditions."

Commenting on his new affiliation with Karsten Manufacturing, Oosterhuis said he couldn't ever remember not having putted without a Ping putter.

"I was using a Ping Anser putter when I first met Karsten Solheim in 1971 at my first US Masters," said Oosterhuis. "I was so impressed with him and his company that I later played Ping golf clubs on his staff in the early 1980's. The goals and principles of the company and Karsten's dedication to quality and product innovation have never changed."

Oosterhuis fondly recalls his Ryder Cup playing days, when he won 14 of the 28 matches in which he participated. He won 6 of his first 7 singles matches, including victories over Arnold Palmer and Johnny Miller. In the match against Miller in 1975 at Laurel Valley CC, Oosterhuis was 2-down after 12 holes and then scored five 3's in a row to win 2&1.

In 1977, Oosterhuis partnered Nick Faldo in Faldo's rookie Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. Both golfers were undefeated in team and singles competition that year.

Note: Ping and Anser are registered trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.