Weekly Highlights
PGA TOUR:
It was an all-Titleist Pro V1x playoff at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where Kevin Na topped Patrick Cantlay with a par on the second extra hole. Both players made birdie on the 72nd hole to finish regulation at 23-under 261. The win was the fourth of Na’s PGA TOUR career and the third in his last 30 starts. Both players earned their first career victories at this event – Cantlay in 2017 and Na in 2011. Cantlay was runner-up last year, as well.
Ten of the 12 players who finished among the top 10 and ties this week, relied upon the Pro V1 or Pro V1x for their success, including Pat Perez (Pro V1x), who finished solo 3rd, two shots out of the playoff . Titleist golf ball players have now won three of the first four events on the new 2019-20 season.
For the fourth consecutive event to start the new PGA TOUR season, more than 70 percent of all players teed up a Pro V1/Pro V1x. This week, 102 players played a Titleist, that’s more than six times the nearest competitor (16).
LPGA TOUR:
Cheyenne Knight (Pro V1) earned her first career title, capturing the Volunteers of America Classic an hour away from her childhood home just outside Dallas, Texas.
Starting the final round one shot behind the overnight leader, Knight closed with a 6-under par 66 en route to an 18-under 266 victory total, two shots clear of Jaye Marie Green (Pro V1, Scotty Cameron Concept 2 NB putter) and Brittany Altomare (Pro V1). Knight joins Jeongeun Lee6 (Pro V1x) as the only rookies to win so far this season.
Along with a two-year exemption, Knight is now eligible for the Asia Swing following the final full-field event of the regular season.
The win is the 21st for Titleist golf ball players on the 2019 LPGA Tour, more than five times the nearest competitor with 4. Knight topped a leaderboard that – for the second time in two weeks – featured 10 Titleist golf ball players among the 11 players who finished in the Top 10 and ties.
JAPAN:
Shaun Norris (Pro V1x) earned his fourth career JGTO title with a one shot win at the Top Cup Tokai Classic. His 9-under par 275 victory total was three shots clear of Jazz Janewattananond (Pro V1) and Taihei Sato (Pro V1x) who were among three players who tied for 4th.
In addition to golf balls (69/59%), Titleist also topped the field in hybrids (36/30%), irons (23/20%) and wedges (138/49%).
ASIAN:
Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Pro V1x) won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters for his first title on the Asian Tour, at the same site where he first made his professional debut as a 17-year old in 2015. The now 20-year old started his final round one shot back of the overnight leaders but closed with a two-under par 70 to finish with a 10-under par 278 victory total, one shot clear of three players.
Ten of the 11 players who finished among the top 10 and ties played a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for their success. In addition to topping the golf ball count with 89 players for 74 percent of the field, Titleist was also the top choice in irons (18%) and wedges (36%).
SOUTH AFRICA:
Thriston Lawrence (Pro V1x) fired a final round 7-under par 65 en route to a 54-hole victory total of 15-under par 201 at the Vodacom Origins Stellenbosch. It marked Lawrence’s first career Sunshine Tour title, finishing one shot clear of four players, including Riekus Nortje (Pro V1x), JJ Senekal (Pro V1x) and Titleist Brand Ambassador JP Strydom (Pro V1, TS3 driver, TS3 fairway metal, 718 T-MB/AP2/MB irons, Vokey Design SM7 wedges, Scotty Cameron putter).
#1 Ball
A Closer Look
WHAT’S IN PATRICK CANTLAY’S TITLEIST BAG?
Pro V1x, NEW TS3 (9.5) driver, 915F (15.0) fairway metal, 816H2 (21.0) hybrid, NEW T100 (4-9) irons, Vokey Design pitching (46), NEW gap (54.10S), NEW sand (56.08M) and lob (62.08L) wedges, Scotty Cameron GSS putter.
JUST THE STATS:
In just his second week with his new Titleist TS3 driver, T100 irons and Vokey Design SM7 wedges, Cantlay was either the leader or was among the leaders across every major statistical category. Cantlay topped the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (5.253); was 2nd in SG: Tee to Green (13.544); was T-2 in Greens in Regulation (87.50%, 50/63); was 3rd in SG: Around the Green (4.566); was 4th in Driving Distance (330.8 avg.); and T-11 in Driving Accuracy (76.79%, 43 of 56). He also led the field with a 345-yard drive on the 18th hole on Sunday, leading to his tournament-tying birdie.
Not one to change equipment often, Cantlay worked his new Titleist T100 (4-P) irons into his bag during the off season, playing them for the first time in competition at the Safeway Open just two weeks ago. Cantlay is also gaming a new TS3 (9.5) driver and two new SM7 (54.10S/56.08M) wedges, which he also played for the first time in Napa.