Van Der Walt powers home with final-round 67 to earn first career European Tour win at inaugural Tshwane Open
CARLSBAD, Calif. (March 3, 2013) – TaylorMade-adidas Tour Staff professional Dawie Van Der Walt, armed with a bag of new equipment including the R1 driver, RBZ Stage 2 metalwoods and RocketBladez Tour irons, earned his first career European Tour win Sunday after a final-round 67 powered him to victory at the inaugural Tshwane Open. Tackling an immensely long layout at Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate – the course played more than 7,700 yards – Van Der Walt (-21) missed only two fairways and one green (17/18 GIR) during his final-round charge, a testament to his confidence and precision with the R1 driver and RocketBladez Tour irons.
A 30-year-old journeyman from South Africa, Van Der Walt entered the week No. 436 in the Official World Golf Rankings; perhaps his most significant gain is that Sunday’s victory has secured him a two-year exemption on the European Tour. Coming off a year in 2012 in which he played primarily on the Web.Com Tour, Van Der Walt most notably earned a third-place finish at the Joburg Open (European Tour) and fell just short as a runner-up at the Cox Classic (Web.Com), where he recorded an incredible final round of 60.
Van Der Walt’s two-shot victory can be largely attributed to his red-hot outward nine during Sunday’s final round, as he eagled the behemoth par-5 fourth hole (685 yards) and followed with birdies at No. 6 and 7, turning in a bogey-free 32. The win marks the first European Tour victory for TaylorMade’s new Lethal golf ball.
TaylorMade was the No. 1 driver and fairway wood brand in play at the inaugural Tshwane Open, including 37 R1 drivers.
In the Bag:
R1 Driver (Oban Kiyoshi 75 X)
RBZ Stage 2 Tour 14.5° fairway (Oban Kiyoshi 85 X)
RBZ Stage 2 Tour 18.5° Rescue (Oban Kiyoshi 100 S)
RocketBladez Tour irons (3-PW)
Lethal Golf ball
adidas Golf adiPURE footwear
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the core brands: adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade, Rockport and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 46,000 employees and generated sales of over Ì¢?åÂ13 billion in 2011.
About TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company sells golf clubs, balls, clothing and accessories under the TaylorMade, adidas Golf, Adams and Ashworth brands. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company posted 2011 sales of over Ì¢?åÂ1.0 billion.
Contact:
Dave Cordero
TaylorMade Golf, Public Relations Manager
Tel: (760) 918.6367
dave.cordero@tmag.com
twitter.com/davecordero
