Fairhaven, MA (August 3, 2009) – A first-time major champion and three first-time winners on their respective tours accounted for four more wins this week by Titleist golf ball loyalists. All four players relied upon the Pro V1x for their success, and advanced Titleist’s year-to-date win count across the worldwide professional tours to 91, compared to 19 for the nearest competitor.
LPGA: Catriona Matthew, relying upon the new 2009 Pro V1x for the first time in competiton, as well as a Scotty Cameron by Titleist Newport 2 Detour putter, birdied three straight holes over the closing nine to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open by three strokes for her first major title. The 39-year-old Scot held on to her overnight lead with a final round 1-over 71. She finished with a 3-under total of 285, three shots clear of the runner-up. There was a four-way tie for third at 289, which included Titleist golf ball loyalist Hee-Won Han (Pro V1, Scotty Cameron Newport Fastback).
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Ricoh Women’s British Open with 106 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 20. The win was the 12th for a Titleist golf ball player on the 2009 LPGA Tour, four times the nearest competitor with 3.
EUROPEAN: Oskar Henningsson captured his first European Tour title with a victory at the Moravia Silesia Open presented by ALO Diamonds. The European Tour rookie fired a final round 67 for a 13-under total, topping two players by two shots, including fellow Pro V1x player and overnight leader Steve Webster. The 23-year old started the day three shots behind Webster. Henningsson recorded the best finish of his career with a tie for fourth at last week’s SAS Masters, but quadrupled his career earnings on the European Tour with his winner’s check this week.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Moravia Silesia Open with 106 players, compared to 24 for the nearest competitor. The win was the 17th for a Titleist golf ball player on the 2009 European Tour, nearly three times the nearest competitor with 6.
NATIONWIDE: Derek Lamely won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational for his first Nationwide Tour title, defeating a top amateur on the second hole of a sudden death playoff. Lamely, a Pro V1x golf ball player making his 10th career Nationwide start, closed with a 6-under 65 on Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course to match the amateur (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 585.H utility metal, 680 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron 350 putter) at 11-under 273 in regulation. Tom Gillis (Pro V1, 695 CB irons, Vokey Design gap wedge, Vokey Spin Milled lob wedge) and Gavin Coles (Pro V1) were among three players who tied for third at 7-under 277.
With the victory, the 29-year-old Lamely jumped from 135th to 12th on the Nationwide money list. The top 25 at the end of the season will earn 2010 PGA Tour cards.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational with 95 players, compared to 17 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in wedges (124) and putters (47), and was second in drivers (24) and iron sets (35). The win was the 10th for a Titleist golf ball player on the 2009 Nationwide Tour, more than three times the nearest competitor with 3.
ASIAN: Darren Beck (Pro V1x, 907D2 driver, ZB irons, Vokey Design gap wedge, Spin Milled wedges) topped two players, including Titleist Brand Ambassador Gaganjeet Bhullar (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 909H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) to win the Brunei Open in a three-way playoff for his first victory on the Asian Tour.
Beck started his final round six shots out of the lead, but posted the low round of the day with a 6-under 65, to put himself into the playoff at 13-under 271. Beck made birdie on the third playoff hole to complete his come-from-behind victory. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the event with 113 players (75%), compared to 17 for the nearest competitor. Of the 12 players who finished among the top 10 and ties, 10 relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success.
PGA: In addition to his Pro V1x golf ball, Titleist Brand Ambassador Greg Chalmers played a brand new set of yet-to-be introduced Titleist CB irons for his best finish of the season. The left-hander finished at 17-under, sharing second place with John Senden (Pro V1, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter) and Roland Thatcher (Pro V1x, Scotty Cameron putter). Thatcher, in fact, closed with an 8-under 64 and briefly shared the final round lead.
Chalmers was among nine players who put Titleist’s new AP2, AP1, MB and CB irons into play this week, the first time they were available for competition. The new irons will be available in the marketplace beginning November 1. Two other top 10 finishers, Bob Heintz (T8) and Jimmy Walker (T8) finished among the Top 10 playing the New AP1 and New MB irons, respectively.
Titleist Brand Ambassador Michael Letzig (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 670 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) improved upon his season-best eighth place finish last week at the RBC Canadian Open with a 15-under 273 total, tying Ben Crane (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges) for sixth place. Letzig attributed much of his success this week to his improved driving distance with the Titleist 909D2 (310.5 yards). He also finished first in Putts Per Round (25.5) and 9th in Putts Per Greens in Regulation.
Of the 13 players who finished among the top 10 and ties, 10 trusted a Titleist golf ball for their success. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Buick Open with 104 players, compared to 23 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in iron sets (45), wedges (144) and putters (66). Titleist was second in drivers (38).
CHAMPIONS: Titleist was the most played golf ball at the U.S. Senior Open with 99 players, compared to 23 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in wedges (104), and second in drivers (36), iron sets (30) and putters (26).
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