THE SHOW MUST GO ON: NIKE SET TO ROLL OUT NEW WOODS LINE

          THE DAILY continues its review of product launches and
     news from last weekend's PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando:
          ADIDAS: Announced that it has signed Ernie Els to a
     multi-year endorsement deal covering footwear, apparel and
     accessories.  Will tout the partnership via int'l print ads.
     AD AGE's Jeff Jensen reported that the Els campaign, from
     S.F.-based Leagas Delaney, should run in golf magazines in
     February, with TV spots "probable" for the fall (THE DAILY).
          NIKE: Launched two clothing lines -- the Classic,
     around Nick Price, and the Sport, around Tiger Woods -- as
     well as its '98 shoe line.  Nike plans to spend $6.3M on ads
     in the three weeks leading up to Woods' April defense of The
     Masters.  Nike's golf apparel sales were up 76% in '97, and
     footwear sales up 105% (Ron Sirak, AP, 2/2).
          PING: Unveiled the new ISI titanium (TiSI) driver
     (PING).  Ping's negotiations with Phil Mickelson, who re-
     signed with Yonex, were examined by Lisa Mickey of GOLF
     WORLD.  Karsten President John Solheim: "We had worked out a
     lot, but there were still a few things I was uncomfortable
     with, so we stepped away from it" (GOLF WORLD, 1/30).
          SPALDING: Introduced a new ball "made specifically for"
     Callaway's Great Big Bertha and Taylor Made's Ti Bubble 2
     drivers.  In Dallas, Brad Townsend reported that Callaway
     and Taylor Made execs are "looking into whether Spalding is
     infringing on their trademark."  Also, Ben Hogan's widow
     Valerie was at the Show to endorse Spalding's newly acquired
     Hogan line (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/4)....WILSON: Introduced
     the ProStaff Extreme Junior Set club line, its third golf
     set specifically designed for children.  Extended its Fat
     Shaft line into woods with new oversize driver and woods. 
     Debuted the Staff Titanium Double Ti ball (Wilson).    
          NOTES: AZ-based Leading Edge Technologies (LET) has
     signed a deal with Arnold Palmer Golf Management (APGM) to
     rollout LET's PROLINK golf distancing and communications
     network at APGM properties throughout the U.S. (Prolink).
     ...CA-based Gary Player Golf Equipment and Golf One Int'l
     (GOI) announced plans to merge.  The new company, Gary
     Player Golf, will take effect upon the completion of GOI's
     public offering, to be completed in the second quarter of
     '98 (GPGE)....Mizuno has signed John Cook (iGOLF, 1/31).