After a player wins a PGA Tour event, golf equipment companies routinely see a surge in interest in the gear that the golfer used. The effect is magnified after major championships because the whole world is watching, so in 1988, when all four men’s major championships were won by players using a Ping putter, the Phoenix, Arizona-based company had plenty of reason to thump its chest … and ramp up production of its putters.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of that accomplishment, which has not been equaled, Ping is set to release the first of four extremely-limited PLD putters in the Ping Slam collection.
You might recall that last year, Ping released the PLD Limited Anser Patent 55 putters to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Anser. Each of the four variations sold out in less than three minutes, according to the company, proving there is a huge demand for its limited-edition offerings.
Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle (right) celebrates his victory on the 18th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA, 10th April 1988. (Photo by Getty Images)
This year, replicas of the 1988 major-winning Pal, Pal 2, Zing 2 and Anser will be made available starting on the Tuesday of this year’s men’s major championship weeks, but only 88 are being created, and they will cost $990 each at pingpld.com. However, on December 5th, 35 complete sets of Ping Slam putters, including a custom-designed display unit, will go on sale for $4990.
“We’re excited to offer these legendary putters to golfers,” said John A. Solheim, Ping’s executive chairman and the son of the company’s founder, Karsten Solheim. “It’s a great way to pay tribute to Karsten’s success and all he brought to putter designs while celebrating with our loyal Ping fans. Whether golfers want to purchase one of the 88 individual putters during the week of the major or wait until the end of the year to collect all four at once, we expect the putters to go fast, so we encourage those interested to plan accordingly.”
Each Ping Slam series putter is fully machined and custom-built in the Ping WRX department at the company’s headquarters, where the putters used by pros like Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Tony Finau are produced. Each Ping Slam putter also is serialized for authenticity.
Ping Slam Pal. (Ping)
On Tuesday, the Ping Slam Pal will become available to commemorate Sandy Lyle winning the 1988 Masters using an original Pal. While Lyle’s putter was cast from manganese bronze, the Ping Slam model is milled from an aluminum/bronze alloy, but it has the precise shape and the perimeter-weighted head featuring a shorter blade length and an Anser hosel.
As this season’s major approach, Golfweek will feature the rest of the Ping Slam lineup.
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