Titleist Brand Ambassador Parker McLachlin Captures First Career Pga Tour Title.
Fairhaven, MA (August 4, 2008) – It was a four-win week for Titleist golf ball loyalists across the worldwide professional tours, led by Vijay Singh’s victory at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. In addition, Titleist brand ambassador Parker McLachlin captured his first career PGA TOUR crown with a seven-shot win at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. Ji-Yai Shin won her first major and LPGA Tour title at the British Women’s Open and Takuya Taniguchi was victorious at the Sun Chlorella Classic in Japan. Four more victories advance the Titleist golf ball victory count across the worldwide professional tours to 107, more than four times the nearest competitor with 25.
TITLEIST EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 3, 2008
WGC: Vijay Singh converted a 4-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to close with a 2-under 68 and a one-shot victory in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. With his 10-under 270 total, Singh captured his first World Golf Championship. Fellow Pro V1x loyalist Lee Westwood was one of two players who tied for second.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with 37 players, compared to 16 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also the top choice in the iron (T-14), wedge (50) and putter (24) categories.
PGA TOUR: Titleist brand ambassador Parker McLachlin claimed his first PGA TOUR victory by seven strokes at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, finishing the tournament at 18-under 270. The 29-year old tied the course record with a 10-under 62 in the second round and established a new 54-hole record at 20-under. McLachlin topped a leaderboard that included 10 Titleist golf ball players among the top 13 finishers. He earned an invitation to the PGA Championship with the win.
What’s in Parker McLachlin’s Titleist Bag?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, new 909 driver (10.5), 909 fairway metal (15.5), 585.H utility metal (21.0), AP2 irons (4-P), Vokey Design approach (52) and sand (56) wedges and TVD lob wedge (60).
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Legends Reno-Tahoe open with 79 players, more than all other golf balls combined. McLachlin’s victory is the 19th for Titleist golf ball players on the 2008 PGA TOUR, nearly twice the nearest competitor. Titleist Pro V1x players have won each of the last six PGA TOUR events, including the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and British Open.
Titleist was also the top choice in the iron (33), wedge (118) and putter (48) categories. Titleist was second in drivers (30). In fact, McLachlin’s victory marks the second win in a row for the new Titleist 909 driver. He follows Chez Reavie’s trip to the Canadian Open winner’s circle last week with the 909 driver. McLachlin also played the new 909 fairway metal and AP2 irons.
LPGA: It was a Pro V1x 1-2 finish at the Women’s British Open, where 20-year old South Korean Ji-Yai Shin captured her first career major with a three-stroke win over Taiwan’s Yani Tseng. Both players fired final rounds of 6-under 66. Shin finished at 18-under 270. Tseng won the LPGA Championship for her first major earlier this year. Shin, who has won 21 times in her homeland or in Japan, earns an invitation for membership on the LPGA Tour with the victory.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the RICOH Women’s British Open with 110 players, compared to 18 for the nearest competitor. Titleist players have won 7 of the last 9 events on the LPGA Tour, including each of the last three majors.
NATIONWIDE: David Branshaw (Pro V1x, Vokey Design sand wedge, Scotty Cameron Newport Slant-Neck T-20 putter) was edged on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, after both players finished regulation at 19-under 265. Skip Kendall (Pro V1, 907D2 driver, 906F4 fairway metal, 695 irons, Vokey Design sand wedge, Vokey Design lob wedge) shot a final round 64, the low round of the day and his lowest round of the year, to finish in a three-way tie for third.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Cox Classic with 110 players, compared to 18 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also the top choice in the iron (42), wedge (138) and putter (55) categories.
JAPAN: Takuya Taniguchi (Pro V1x, 905S driver, 585H utility metal, 695CB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled approach and lob wedges) captured the Sun Chlorella Classic, closing with a final round 68 for a one shot victory. Dong-Hwan Lee (Pro V1x, 905R driver, ZM irons, Vokey Design approach wedge, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport putter) finished solo third, two shots back. Taniguchi finished at 4-under 284.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Sun Chlorella Classic with 59 players, compared to 31 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also the top choice in the wedge (74) category.
DIRECT FROM THE TOUR: To view exclusive round-by-round interviews with Titleist players from every PGA TOUR event, including British Open champion Padraig Harrington, please visit our Direct from the Tour feature online at: http://www.titleist.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
TITLEIST TOUR BLOG: Find out what’s going on inside the ropes at every PGA TOUR event and on tours across the world, and ask questions of our Titleist Tour Leadership staff by visiting 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 throughout the year, visit the Titleist Golf Club leaderboard at: http://www.titleist.com/leaderboard/default.asp
Contact:
Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211)
