Kenny Perry Keeps Titleist Perfect on 2009 PGA Tour with Playoff Win at FBR Open; Teenage Titleist Brand Ambassador Rory McIlroy Captures First PGA European Tour Title
Fairhaven, MA (February 2, 2009) – It was another super Sunday for Titleist golf ball and brand loyalists who were victorious across four worldwide professional tours, including Kenny Perry at the FBR Open and Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic. Perry’s win marks the fourth straight by a Titleist player to start the 2009 PGA TOUR season. He follows Pat Perez (Bob Hope Classic), Zach Johnson (Sony Open in Hawaii) and Geoff Ogilvy (Mercedes Benz Championship) into the 2009 PGA Tour Winners’ Circle. Four more wins across the worldwide professional tours this week advances season victory total to 15, nearly four times the nearest competitor with 4.
TITLEIST HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 1, 2009
PGA TOUR: It was a 1-2-3 finish for Titleist players at the FBR Open where Kenny Perry, playing the Pro V1x golf ball, converted a 22-foot birdie putt to edge Titleist Brand Ambassador Charley Hoffman (Pro V1, 909D2 driver, 680 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Red X putter) on the third playoff hole.
– One of the newest Titleist Brand Ambassadors, Kevin Na (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, AP2 irons, Vokey Design sand wedge, Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Newport SS putter) finished solo third at 13-under 271, one shot out of the playoff. Na rallied from six strokes behind to start the final round, but barely missed an 8-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have put him in the playoff with Perry and Hoffman.
– It was the 13th tour victory for Perry, who won three times in 2008 and played on last year’s winning U.S. Ryder Cup team.
– Of the 11 players who were among the Top 10 and ties, 8 trusted Titleist golf balls for their success.
– Titleist players among the Top 10 and ties following Perry, Hoffman and Na included: David Toms (T4/New 2009 Pro V1), Brian Gay (T6/Pro V1), Scott Piercy (T6/Pro V1), Cliff Kresge (T10/New 2009 Pro V1) and Jeff Maggert (T10/Pro V1x).
– Titleist was the most played golf ball at the FBR Open with 95 players (72%), compared to 15 for the nearest competitor.
– Of the 95 players who trusted a Titleist, 21 played the New 2009 Pro V1 and 21 played the New 2009 Pro V1x.
– Titleist was also first in iron sets (38), wedges (134) and putters (54). Titleist was second in drivers (35) and fairway metals (46).
EUROPEAN TOUR: There were great expectations placed on teenager Rory McIlroy (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 906F2 fairway metals, ZM Forged irons, Vokey Design pitching wedge, Vokey Spin Milled gap, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Fastback putter) when he turned professional last year after a stellar amateur career. Both his own and the golf world’s. McIlroy turned expectations into performance at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he posted a wire-to-wire one-shot win for his first career PGA European Tour title. In doing so, the 19-year-old also became one of the youngest champions in tour history and advanced to No. 16 in the world rankings.
– Fellow Titleist Brand Ambassadors Robert Karlsson (Pro V1x, 905R driver, 909F3 fairway metals, ZM Forged irons, Vokey Design pitching wedge, Spin Milled sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron GSS putter) and Martin Kaymer (Pro V1, 909F2 fairway metal, 585H utility metal, ZM Forged irons, Vokey Design wedges) continued their strong play, and were among three players tied for 5th.
SOUTH AFRICA (SUNSHINE TOUR): Darren Fichardt (Pro V1x) carded a final round 65 to claim victory by one shot at the Nashua Masters. Fichardt finished at 17-under 263. Titleist Brand Ambassadors Brandon Grace (Pro V1x) and Tyrone Van Aswegen (Pro V1x) were among three players who tied for 3rd. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Nashua Masters with 109 players (76%) compared to 29 for the nearest competitor.
AUSTRALASIAN: Titleist Brand Ambassador Ashley Hall (Pro V1x) kicked off the 2009 Australasian PGA Tour season with a victory at the Subaru Victorian Open. The 25-year old shot a final round 2-under par 69 to finish at 10-under 274, two clear of his closest pursuers. Of the 15 players who finished tied for 10th place or better, 13 trusted Titleist for their success. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Subaru Victorian Open with 123 players (79%), more than 13 times the nearest competitor with 9.
TITLEIST TOUR BLOG: For daily notes from across the worldwide professional tours, please visit the Titleist Tour Blog at: http://titleistblog.com/
DIRECT FROM THE TOUR VIDEO: To view exclusive round-by-round interviews with Titleist players from every PGA TOUR event, please visit our Direct from the Tour feature online at: http://www.titleist.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
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)
Joe.gomes@acushnetgolf.com
