Golfer's win (and timely photo) thrills Human Touch

Andrew Cohen, president of massage chair resource Human Touch, was enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon at home when a friend excitedly called to inform him that PGA golfer Tim Clark, who has an endorsement deal with the company, was poised to win The Players Championship, the richest event on the PGA tour.

Cohen quickly found the tournament telecast and watched Clark fend off two challengers on the final three holes to record a one-shot victory. It was the 34-year-old Clark’s first PGA tour win, and was worth a cool $1.71 million.

“I’m very happy for him,” Cohen said. “He’s always been in the top tier of players, but could never close the deal and win a tournament.”

Cohen was equally thrilled with a widely distributed Associated Press photo of Clark kissing the championship trophy. In the photo, the Human Touch logo is visible on his left shirt collar.

He said Clark approached his company about an endorsement deal after using one of its zero-gravity massage chairs in 2007 while recovering from back and neck injuries.

“He loved our chair … and still uses one today,” Cohen said.

The company is hoping Clark’s suddenly higher profile in the golfing world will help its health and wellness message reach the 30 million recreational golfers who are potential Human Touch customers.

“Through the years, I have used a massage therapist to maintain my body from the rigors of professional golf,” Clark said in a press release distributed by the company. “Owning a Human Touch massage chair has allowed me to get the same results in my home anytime I need it.”