Kerr, Bateman and Storm Capture Career-Changing Victories
Dreams do come true. Showcasing the talent and poise that have made her one of the LPGA’s most formidable players, Cristie Kerr relied upon the New Pro V1 golf ball to earn her first career major with an emotional victory at the U.S. Women’s Open. It was also a dream fulfilled for Brian Bateman, who trusted the New Pro V1x to cap his first career PGA Tour title when he broke a four-way tie on the final hole by converting a dramatic 12-foot birdie putt. Likewise, on the PGA European Tour, Graeme Storm rallied from five strokes back to capture his first career win at the Open de France. In fact, Titleist claimed six worldwide wins this week to surpass the 100-victory count for the year, more than all other balls combined.
Titleist highlights for week ending July 1, 2007:
PGA TOUR: Brian Bateman shot a final-round 69 for a 273 total and one-stroke victory over three players including Pro V1x loyalists Woody Austin and Jason Gore.
Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the Buick Open with 118 (76%) players relying upon the Pro V1 or Pro V1x, more than nine times the nearest competitor with 10.
The victory is the 16th for Titleist golf ball players on this year’s PGA Tour, more than three times the nearest competitor with 5. Titleist was also the most played iron (34), wedge (146) and putter (60) at the Buick Open.
The winner also relied upon 695CB irons, Vokey Design sand and lob wedges and a Scotty Cameron Laguna 2.5 putter. He credited his "life-changing week," in part, to his putter. "My putter really bailed me out."
PGA EUROPEAN: Graeme Storm fired a bogey-free final round 5-under 66 to come from five strokes behind and win the Open de France by a shot. It marked the first career PGA European Tour victory for Storm, who finished with a 7-under 277 total, one shot clear of overnight leader and fellow New Pro V1x player, Soren Hansen.
Titleist was the golf ball of choice at the Open de France with 107 (69%) players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 20.
The victory is the 19th for Titleist golf ball players on this year’s PGA European Tour, more than four times the nearest competitor with 4.
LPGA: Cristie Kerr fired a final round 1-under 70, including an 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole to take the lead, and held on to win the U.S. Women’s Open for her first career major. She finished two strokes clear of two players, including fellow New Pro V1 player Angela Park. Kerr, who made only two bogeys over her final 45 holes, finished the week with a 5-under 279 total, en route to her 10th career victory.
Titleist was the golf ball of choice at the U.S. Women’s Open with 125 (80%) players, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 17.
The victory is the 10th for Titleist golf ball players on this year’s LPGA Tour, more than twice the nearest competitor with 4.
NATIONWIDE: Roland Thatcher (New Pro V1x) closed with a 4-under 68 to win the Peek’n Peak Classic in record fashion. Thatcher finished at 15-under 273 – a tournament record by one shot – and three shots clear of the runner-up. It marked the second career Nationwide Tour victory for Thatcher. Brock MacKenzie (New Pro V1x) fired a final round 65 and finished third at 10-under 278.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Peek’n Peak Classic with 120 players (77%), more than eight times the nearest competitor with 14. Titleist was also trusted by more players than any other brand in the iron (50), wedge (146) and putter (63) categories.
The victory is the 9th for Titleist golf ball players on this year’s Nationwide Tour, more than four times the nearest competitor with 2.
CANADA: Mike Grob (New Pro V1) fired a final round 6-under 66 to win the ATB Financial Classic by three strokes. Grob, the all-time earnings leader on Tour, finished the week with a 24-under 264 total for his fifth career Canadian Tour victory.
SOUTH AFRICA: Warren Abery (Pro V1x) closed with a final round 2-under 70 to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural Nashua Golf Challenge. Abery finished the week with a 9-under 207 total to win by four strokes for his fifth career win on the Sunshine Tour.
DIRECT FROM THE TOUR: To view exclusive round-by-round interviews with Titleist players from the Buick Open, including winner Brian Bateman, and from every PGA TOUR event, please visit our Direct from the Tour feature online at: http://titleist.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
TITLEIST TOUR BLOG: Find out what’s going on inside the ropes at every PGA TOUR event, or if you would like to pose questions to the Titleist Tour Leadership staff, please visit the Titleist Tour Blog at: http://www.titleisttourblog.com/
TITLEIST GOLF CLUB LEADERBOARD: To learn about Titleist’s golf club success on the PGA Tour, the PGA Professional National Championship and at major amateur events, visit the Titleist Golf Club leaderboard at: http://titleist.com/leaderboard/default.asp
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