"Rumors are circulating in golf circles" that Marty
Leonard, of TX-based Leonard Golf Links, "may be trying to
buy the Ben Hogan Co. to move it back to Ft. Worth, where it
was founded," according to Dan Piller of the FT. WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM. Leonard "declined to comment," and Hogan Golf
President Leonard Slater "reiterated" that the golf
equipment manufacturer is not for sale. Hogan's Slater
added that the VA-based company is in the process of "trying
to revive its position in the market with an upgraded
marketing campaign" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/12).
CHIP SHOTS: Home Depot's sponsorship of the Senior PGA
Home Depot Invitational has been extended for three years
through the year 2000. The '98 Home Depot Invitational will
be played the week of May 4-10 at the TPC at NC's Piper Glen
(PGA Tour)....Omega sponsored the "$1 Million Hole-In-One
For Charity!" in New York City this morning. Ernie Els and
Bernhard Langer each took tee shots off the top of the Arch
in Washington Square Park, aiming for a hole 85 yards away,
where a hole-in-one wins $1M for charity (Omega).
...Emmerling Post, NY, has picked up the ad account for
Golf-Tech's Snake Eyes Golf Clubs. The account was at the
Cox Group, NY, and billings are estimated at more than $1M
(N.Y. TIMES, 8/12)....David Leadbetter was at Jos. A. Bank
Clothiers in New York City yesterday to sign copies of his
new book, "David Leadbetter's Lessons from the Golf Greats."
Jos. A. Banks will introduce the Leadbetter Golf Collection
golf attire this fall (Jos. A. Bank).
