Birdies Final Two Holes En Route to One-Shot Win. Advances to World No. 2.
Fairhaven, MA (September 8, 2009): Titleist Brand Ambassador Steve Stricker triumphed at the Deutsche Bank Championship in dramatic fashion, and moved into the top position in the FedEx Cup Playoff standings with two tournaments remaining. In an exciting Labor Day finish in which several players had a chance to win, Stricker converted a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, then hit a delicate chip on the par-5 18th for a tap-in birdie. He closed with a 4-under 67 to finish at 17-under 267, one shot clear of fellow Titleist loyalist Jason Dufner (Pro V1, 909D Comp driver, 906F2 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design sand wedge, Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Kombi putter), who shot a final round 6-under 65, and Scott Verplank (Pro V1, Vokey Design sand wedge, Spin Milled lob wedge), who birdied his final four holes for a 67.
Padraig Harrington (Pro V1x) and Angel Cabrera (Pro V1x) were among three players who tied for 4th. Geoff Ogilvy (Pro V1, New King Cobra ZL driver, King Cobra S9-1 fairway metals, King Cobra Pro MB irons, Vokey Design pitching and sand wedges, Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron prototype putter) finished 7th, another shot back.
The victory marks the third win of the year for Stricker and moves him into the No. 2 position in the World Rankings for the first time in his career.
WHAT’S IN STEVE STRICKER’S BAG?: Pro V1 golf ball, Titleist 909D3 driver (8.5), 906F2 fairway metal (13.0), 909H hybrid (19.0), 755 irons (3-P), Vokey Design sand (54) and lob (60) wedges.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Deutsche Bank Championship with 63 players, compared to 10 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in iron sets (23), wedges (79) and putters (35). Titleist was second in drivers (23) and fairway metals (20). The win marks the 19th for Titleist golf ball players on the 2009 PGA Tour, compared to 8 for the nearest competitor.
CHAMPIONS: Jeff Sluman (Pro V1, Vokey Design sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Santa Fe putter) overcame a six-stroke deficit at Pebble Beach to successfully defend his Walmart First Tee Open title. Sluman aced the fifth hole en route to a closing 4-under 68 and a two-stroke victory. Sluman, who started the day tied for 5th, posted four birdies and the hole-in-one to finish with a 10-under 206 total. Gene Jones (Pro V1x) shot a final round 2-under 70 to finish solo second. Titleist Brand Ambassador Mark O’Meara (Pro V1, 909D3 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges) tied for third place at 7-under 209.
It marks the third career Champions Tour victory for Sluman, who captured the 2008 Bank of America Championship in addition to his two wins at the Walmart First Tee Open. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the event with 49 players, compared to 13 for the nearest competitor. The win marks the 13th for Titleist golf ball players on the 2009 Champions Tour, more than six times the nearest competitor with 2. Titleist was also first in wedges (53).
NATIONWIDE: Rookie Troy Merritt (Pro V1, 909D2 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 585.H hybrid, AP1 irons, Vokey Design gap wedge, Spin Milled sand and lob wedges) converted a 20-foot birdie putt to top Adam Bland (Pro V1x) on the first hole of an all-Titleist sudden death playoff at the Mexico Open. The two players finished up a weather-plagued four days tied at 15-under 273.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Mexico Open with 107 players, compared to 13 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in iron sets (35), wedges (115) and putters (42), and second in drivers (T-28). The victory marks the 14th for Titleist golf ball players on the 2009 Nationwide Tour, 10 more than the nearest competitor with 4. It also marks the first-ever win with AP1 irons since its introduction on one of the major worldwide professional tours.
CANADIAN: Calgary native James Love (Pro V1x) parred the first playoff hole to capture the Canadian Tour Championship. Love shot a 3-under 67 to finish regulation at 11-under 269.
WORLDWIDE WIN COUNT: With four more victories this week, Titleist golf ball loyalists have accumulated 108 victories year-to-date across the worldwide professional tours, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 22.
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