Brand Ambassador Continues Titleist Winning Streak to Start 2009 PGA TOUR Season
Fairhaven, MA (February 9, 2009) – Titleist Brand Ambassador Nick Watney made two birdies over the final three holes to capture the Buick Invitational by one shot for his second career PGA TOUR title. Watney converted a 40-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 16th, then completed his dramatic come-from-behind victory with a birdie on the final hole for the win. Watney closed with a 4-under 68 to finish with a 11-under 277 total.
Camilo Villegas, who relies upon the New 2009 Pro V1 golf ball, as well as Vokey Design Spin Milled approach, sand and lob wedges and a Scotty Cameron Circa 62 putter, tied for 3rd place, two shots behind Watney. Matt Jones (Pro V1x, 905R driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 695MB irons, Vokey Design pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 SS) finished solo 5th, four shots back.
In fact, 8 of the top 10 finishers relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success, including Mathew Goggin (6TH/Pro V1x). Titleist Brand Ambassadors Ben Crane (New 2009 Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metals, AP2 irons, Vokey Design approach and sand wedges, Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Fastback putter) and Charley Hoffman (Pro V1, 909D2 driver, 680 irons, Vokey Design pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Red X putter), as well as Bubba Watson (New 2009 Pro V1x) and Luke Donald (Pro V1x), all tied for 7th place.
WHAT’S IN NICK WATNEY’S TITLEIST BAG?:
Pro V1x golf ball
909D2 driver (10.5)
909F2 fairway metal (15.5)
909H hybrid (21)
AP2 irons (3-9)
Vokey Design pitching wedge (48)
Vokey Design Spin Milled sand (56) and lob (60) wedges
Scotty Cameron Newport Tour putter
TITLEIST 5-0: Watney’s win marks the fifth consecutive victory by a Titleist golf ball loyalist to start the 2009 PGA TOUR season. He follows Kenny Perry (FBR Open), Pat Perez (Bob Hope Classic), fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Zach Johnson (Sony Open), and Geoff Ogilvy (Mercedes Benz Championship) into this year’s PGA TOUR winners’ circle. Each champion trusted the Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for his winning success.
#1 BALL AT THE BUICK INVITATIONAL …: Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Buick Invitational with 102 players (65%), more than four times the nearest competitor with 25. Of the 102 players who trusted a Titleist golf ball at the Buick Invitational, 32 played the New 2009 Pro V1x and 22 played the New 2009 Pro V1.
…AND IRON, WEDGE AND PUTTER: Titleist was the top choice among all players at the Buick Invitational in the iron (47), wedge (158) and putter (65) categories. Titleist was second in drivers (43) and fairway metals (62).
NATIONWIDE TOUR: Vance Veazey (Pro V1x) parred the second hole of an all-Titleist golf ball playoff to win the Nationwide Tour’s season-opening Panama Championship. It marked the fourth career Nationwide Tour victory for Veazey, who topped New 2009 Pro V1 player Garrett Willis after both finished regulation at 7-under 273. Veazey, who also won the 2005 Panama Championship, was the only player to shoot four consecutive rounds in the 60’s, including a steady 1-under final round 69. Willis birdied four of the last six holes in regulation to shoot a 4-under 66 to reach the playoff. Both players finished two shots in front of New 2009 Pro V1x player Jeff Gove, as Titleist secured a 1-2-3 sweep on the leaderboard.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Panama Championship with 88 players (67%), compared to 17 for the nearest competitor. Of the 88 players who trusted a Titleist golf ball at the Panama Championship, 31 played the New 2009 Pro V1x and 23 played the New 2009 Pro V1. Titleist was also first in wedges (110) and putters (59).
ASIAN TOUR: South Africa’s James Kamte (Pro V1x) began his rookie year on the Asian Tour by securing his maiden title at the season-opening Asian Tour International. Kamte won by two shots after closing with a 5-under 66 for a 16-under 268 total. Four players tied for third another shot back, including local favorite, Prom Meesawat of Thailand (Pro V1x, 907D2 driver, 906F 3-wood, 735 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Red X putter), who fired a final round 66, Marcus Both (Pro V1x), and Juvic Pagunsan (Pro V1x).
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Asian Tour International with 99 players (69%), compared to 18 for the nearest competitor.
TITLEIST TOUR BLOG: For daily inside-the-rope notes, video, player and equipment information 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
