Stryker Returns to TPC Sawgrass for THE PLAYERS Championship Alongside Former Tournament Winners Fred Funk and Hal Sutton

"Official Joint Replacement Products of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour" brings Stryker Mobility Zone to Ponte Vedra for Second Consecutive Year

News provided by

Stryker

May 05, 2015, 08:03 ET

MAHWAH, N.J., May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Stryker Orthopaedics announced today its return to THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra, FL. Since becoming the "Official Joint Replacement Products of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour" over one year ago, the company has made 14 stops along the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour combined, with its onsite activation the Stryker Mobility Zone – a destination designed to educate golf fans on the importance of joint health. Proving to be a successful program, Stryker has provided countless tournament goers with relevant information on the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle, since the Stryker Mobility Zone's debut in 2014.

While onsite at THE PLAYERS, Stryker will provide golf fans with the opportunity to learn about hip and knee products and how they may help patients regain mobility and return to their everyday activities post-surgery. Additionally, the company will introduce fans to Mako, the robotic-arm assisted technology that is transforming the orthopaedic industry. The Mako System will be on display at the Stryker Mobility Zone throughout the weekend. Fans will also have the chance to engage with former tournament champions and Stryker ambassadors, Fred Funk (2005) and Hal Sutton (1983; 2000).

For 2015, the Stryker Mobility Zone will feature the following enhanced fan experiences:

Interactive photo booth for fans to share highlights of their tournament experience
Pedometer giveaway for fans to track their steps and mobility throughout the course
Onsite local orthopedic surgeons to provide fans with joint health assessments and additional education
Mako – Stryker's robotic-arm-assisted technology
Meet and greet opportunities with Champions Tour golfers, Fred Funk and Hal Sutton

"Being able to return to TPC Sawgrass and appreciate THE PLAYERS as a spectator, not only allows me to relive great memories from my career, but to also look forward to my future in professional golf; something that wouldn't be possible without my GetAroundKnee from Stryker," said Fred Funk.

Funk, a Stryker brand ambassador since 2011, is one of the most recognizable names and personalities in professional golf. During his career, which spans more than 20 years, Funk has won eight titles on the PGA TOUR, including THE PLAYERS Championship 2005, and six titles on the Champions Tour, including the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. Funk underwent total knee replacement in November 2009 and received Stryker's GetAroundKnee. He won the 2010 JELD-WEN Tradition the following season, becoming the first player ever to win a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event after total knee replacement surgery.

"It's always an incredible feeling coming back to this tournament; my two victories here truly made an impact on my career," said Hal Sutton, Stryker Ambassador and '83 and '00 PLAYERS Champion. "I'm happy with my decision to have both hips replaced, because it has allowed me to return to my everyday activities, including professional golf."

Sutton, whose 14 PGA TOUR victories include the 1983 PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship in 1983 and 2000, has been a Stryker brand ambassador since last year. In 2012, at age 54, after speaking with his doctor and learning about the differences in hip replacements, Sutton made the decision to undergo a total left hip replacement and received Stryker's Mobile Bearing Hip™. One year later, he received a matching Stryker Mobile Bearing Hip on the right side.

About Stryker:
Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies, including reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology & spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. Stryker products and services are available in over 100 countries around the world. For more information, please visit our website at www.stryker.com.

About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world's premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, NEC Series-PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.

The PGA TOUR's mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2013, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $134 million for local and national charitable organizations and in early 2014 the TOUR's all-time charitable contributions surpassed $2 billion.

The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

SOURCE Stryker