Titleist brand ambassador Chris Kirk captures Viking Classic for first career PGA Tour crown; marks second victory for Titleist prototype irons in three weeks
Fairhaven, MA (July 18, 2011) – Titleist Brand Ambassador Chris Kirk claimed his first PGA TOUR title with a one-stroke win at the Viking Classic. The 26-year old rookie tied the tournament scoring record with a 22-under 266 victory total after firing a final round 4-under 68.
WHAT’S IN CHRIS KIRK’S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, 910D3 driver (9.5), 906F4 fairway metal (13.5), 909H hybrid (19.0), New 712 CB prototype irons (3-9), Vokey Design pitching (48) and sand (54) wedges, Vokey TVD lob wedge (60), Scotty Cameron Del Mar putter.
CAPTAIN KIRK: Kirk topped a leaderboard that included four full-product line Titleist Brand Ambassadors among the top six finishers, including co-runner up Tom Pernice Jr. (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrids, new 712 AP2 prototype irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Kombi putter). Hunter Haas (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, new 712 AP2 prototype irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) and Bud Cauley (Pro V1x, 910D2 driver, 910F.d fairway metal, 910H hybrid, CB/ZM irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2 putter) closed with 5-under 67’s to finish among a three-way tie for 4th.
TOTAL TITLEIST: Kirk marks the third consecutive week a Titleist Brand Ambassador has triumphed on the 2011 PGA TOUR, following the winning performances of Nick Watney (AT&T National) and Steve Stricker (John Deere Classic). In fact, seven different Titleist full-product line players have combined to win nine PGA Tour events this year. Watney (WGC-Cadillac Championship) and Stricker (Memorial) have each won twice, while the other winners include Johnson Wagner (Mayakoba Golf Classic), Gary Woodland (Transitions Championship), Brendan Steele (Valero Texas Open) and Rory McIlroy (U.S. Open).
HOT IRONS: When Titleist debuted its new 712 series (AP1, AP2, CB, MB) prototype irons at the AT&T National, 19 players transitioned the first week they were available, including Nick Watney, who won the event playing the new AP2 model the first time he used them in competition. This week, Chris Kirk captured the Viking Classic with the new 712 CB prototype irons, while runner-up Tom Pernice, Jr. opted for the new 712 AP2 model. Across the pond, Titleist Brand Ambassador Rickie Fowler posted his first career top-5 finish in a major after playing the new 712 MB prototype irons for the first time in competition.
HAVING A BALL: Kirk’s win marks the 22nd on the 2011 PGA TOUR by players trusting the Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 3. A total of 2,592 players have teed up a Titleist on this year’s PGA TOUR, more than six times the nearest competitor with 373. With additional wins on the OneAsia (Thaworn Wiratchant) and Canadian (Tom Hoge) Tours this week, Titleist players have accumulated 92 victories across the worldwide professional tours, again, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 13.
TOP CHOICE: Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice at the Viking Classic with 88 players, more than six times the nearest competitor with 17. Titleist also was first in iron sets (36), including 18 sets of new 712 prototype irons (5 AP2, 4 MB, 9 CB); sand, lob and approach wedges (109); and putters (51). Titleist was second in drivers (32), including 26 910D2 or 910D3 drivers; fairway metals (35); and hybrids (22).
AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP…Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice with 99 players, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 21. Titleist also was first in hybrids (23); iron sets (45), including 9 sets of new 712 prototype irons (1 AP1, 2 AP2, 2 MB, 4 CB); and sand, lob and approach wedges (141). Titleist was second in drivers (41), including 38 910D2 or 910D3 drivers; and putters (47).
THE OPEN CHAMPION…placed his trust in a new Scotty Cameron R&D Proto Concept 1 putter, also known as the “Tour Rat.” The champion finished fifth in putting for the week with a 1.725 average. Another “Tour Rat” loyalist, who finished tied for 5th on the leaderboard at The Open Championship, finished 2nd in putting with a 1.698 average.
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