Rookie Brendan Steele captures Valero Texas Open for first career PGA Tour win. Teenager Matteo Manassero makes history at Maybank Malaysian Open.
Fairhaven, MA (April 18, 2011) – Across the globe, Titleist young guns shined this week as Brand Ambassadors Brendan Steele and Matteo Manassero trusted the Pro V1x golf ball and bags full of Titleist equipment to post victories on the PGA and European Tours, respectively. A rookie, Steele earned his first PGA Tour crown with a one-shot win over fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Charley Hoffman at the Valero Texas Open. Meanwhile, at the Maybank Malaysian Open, 17-year old Manassero edged Gregory Bourdy and Rory McIlroy en route to a Titleist Brand Ambassador 1-2-3 sweep. In fact, Manassero became the first player to win two European Tour events before his 18th birthday. These breakthrough performances add to Titleist’s winning momentum and continued excellence around the world.
PGA TOUR: What’s in Brendan Steele’s Bag?: Pro V1x, 909D2 driver (9.5), 909H hybrid (21.0), MB irons (5-PW), Vokey Design approach (52) and lob (62) wedges, Vokey Design TVD sand (58) wedge.
– Steele finished at 8-under 280, one stroke ahead of two players, including Hoffman, who relies upon the Pro V1 golf ball, 910D3 driver, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges and Scotty Cameron Red X putter. Hoffman’s runner-up finish was his best showing of the season. He moved up six spots on the leaderboard after closing with a 4-under 68.
– The 28-year-old Steele, who captured the 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship, held a one-stroke lead heading into the final round. Steele finished his round with 12 straight pars, including a clutch up-and-down from behind the green on the 72nd hole to preserve the victory.
– Titleist Brand Ambassador Cameron Tringale (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F.d fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron 009 putter), was one of three players who tied for 5th, securing the best finish of his PGA TOUR career.
– Statistically, Steele tied for 2nd in birdies for the week with 17. Hoffman led the field in birdies made for the week (18) and tied for 2nd in putts per GIR (1.622).
– Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the Valero Texas Open with 104 players, more than eight times the nearest competitor with 12.
– Titleist also was first in iron sets (41): sand, lob and approach wedges (130); and putters (58). Titleist was second in drivers (36), including 30 new 910D2 or 910D3 drivers; and fairway metals (34), including 27 new 910F or 910F.d models.
EUROPEAN TOUR: What’s in Matteo Manassero’s Bag?: Pro V1x, 910D2 driver (9.5), 910F fairway metal (13.5), 909H hybrids (17, 20), AP2 irons (3-9), Vokey Design sand (50) and lob (58) wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter.
– Manassero claimed his second career European Tour title with a one-shot win just two days before his 18th birthday. On a day when the field played 27 holes to make up for weather delays earlier in the week, Manassero closed with a final round 4-under 68 to finish with a 16-under 272 victory total.
– Manassero was followed on the leaderboard by fellow Titleist Brand Ambassadors Bourdy (New Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Fastback putter) and McIlroy (Pro V1x, 910D2 driver, 910F fairway metals, MB irons, Vokey Design pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Fastback putter), as the golf balls and ALL 42 golf clubs in the bags of the top three finishers were Titleist branded.
– Bourdy carded eight birdies en route to a final round 67, while McIlroy finished solo 3rd, two shots behind the winner.
– Manassero became the youngest ever champion on the European Tour last year when he won the Castello Masters. He is now the first ever player to win two tournaments before turning 18 years old.
– It is the second straight year a teenager has won the Maybank Malaysian Open, as Manassero follows fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador S.Y. Noh, who won in 2010 at the age of 18.
– With the win, Manassero advances to No. 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking in just his eleventh month as a professional, while McIlroy’s performance advances him to World No. 7.
– Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the event with 96 players, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 20.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Jay Don Blake (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H Hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport Studio Select putter) finished runner-up in a playoff at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Solo 2nd is the 52-year-old Blake’s best finish on the Champions Tour.
– Pro V1 loyalist Russ Cochran (MB irons) secured a share of 3rd place, two shots out of the playoff, while Titleist Brand Ambassador Tom Pernice, Jr. (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrids, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges, and a Scotty Cameron Kombi putter) and Michael Allen (Pro V1x) tied for 5th.
– Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am with 53 players, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 11.
NATIONWIDE TOUR: Daniel Chopra (Pro V1x) was named the champion of the Fresh Express Classic when the tournament had to be curtailed to 54 holes due to poor weather. Chopra made it to his seventh hole on Sunday before a dense bank of San Francisco fog settled over TPC Stonebrae, reducing visibility to a few yards and requiring tournament officials to cancel the fourth round.
– In the third round, Chopra came from four strokes back to grab the 54-hole lead after firing a career-best 9-under 61. Chopra’s three round total of 12-under 198 was one shot clear of two players, including Titleist Brand Ambassador Luke List (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges).
– Four players shared 4th place at 8-under 202, including Titleist Brand Ambassador Erik Compton (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrids, CB and MB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter).
– The win is the third on the Nationwide Tour for Chopra, who has also won twice on the PGA TOUR (2007 Ginn sur Mer Classic, 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship).
– Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the Fresh Express Classic with 111 players, nearly seven times the nearest competitor with 16.
– Titleist also was first in iron sets (43): sand, lob and approach wedges (148); and putters (65). Titleist was second in drivers (42), including 36 new 910D2 or 910D3 drivers; and fairway metals (40), including 27 new 910F or 910F.d models.
WINNING: With three more victories this week, Titleist players have accumulated 36 golf ball wins across the 2011 worldwide professional tours, more than four times the nearest competitor with 8. Steele’s victory marks the 13th by Titleist golf ball loyalists through the first 17 events on the 2011 PGA TOUR. Titleist players have won all four events to date on this year’s Nationwide Tour.
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Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211).
Contact:
Joe Gomes
Director of Communications
508.979.3211
