Fairhaven, MA (August 24, 2009) – Titleist Brand Ambassador Michael Sim earned his way onto the PGA Tour for the remainder of this year and next following his third victory of the year on the Nationwide Tour. Sim secured the instant promotion after he fired a final round 4-under 67 at the Christmas in October Classic, good for 20-under par 264 total and a two-stroke victory over fellow Pro V1x golf ball loyalist Josh Teater. Sim won earlier this season at the Stonebrae Classic and the BMW Charity Classic.
Sim topped a leaderboard that included 12 players who finished among the Top 10 and ties, including 10 who trusted Titleist golf balls for their success. In addition to being the most played golf ball at the event with 104 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 20, Titleist was also first in wedges (131) and putters (50). Sim's victory marks the 13th by a Titleist golf ball player on the 2009 Nationwide Tour, 10 more than the nearest competitor with 3.
WHAT'S IN MICHAEL SIM'S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, 905R (8.5) driver, 909F2 (13.5) 3-wood, 909H (19.0) hybrid, AP2 (3-9) irons, Vokey Design pitching (48), sand (54) and lob (60) wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback putter.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Titleist Pro V1 golf ball loyalist Mike Reid converted a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win the JELD-WEN Tradition for his second career Champions Tour victory, both of which are majors. Reid also won the Senior PGA Championship in 2005. Both playoff participants finished regulation at 16-under 272.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the event with 44 players, compared to 12 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in wedges (39). Reid's victory marks the 11th by a Titleist golf ball player on the 2009 Champions Tour, more than five times the nearest competitor with 2. In addition to the Pro V1, the champion also relied upon a Titleist 983K (7.5) driver, 909H (24.0) hybrid, and Vokey Design sand (56) wedge for his success.
PGA TOUR: The first-time PGA Tour winner relied upon a Vokey Spin Milled lob (60) wedge and a Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5 putter with an Xperimental Black finish for his success at the Wyndham Championship. The champion birdied the third hole of a three-way sudden death playoff that included Titleist Brand Ambassador Jason Bohn (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 909H hybrids, 670 irons, Vokey Design pitching and sand wedges, Vokey Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Newport SLT T10 putter), who shot a final round 8-under 62. The T-2 finish was Bohn's best of the season.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Wyndham Championship with 103 players, compared to 22 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in iron sets (44), wedges (137) and putters (73). Titleist was second in drivers (38).
Scotty Cameron putters have now been played to win 11 events on the PGA Tour, more than any other brand. Statistically, the champion was 8th in Putts Per Green in Regulation (1.707) and T14 in Putts Per Round (29.3). Jason Bohn, meanwhile, was T8 in Greens in Regulation (80.6), and T20 in Putts Per Round (29.5) trusting Titleist equipment from tee-to-green.
LPGA: Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Solheim Cup with 15 of the 24 players relying upon the #1 ball in golf. Six participated on the winning United States (Nicole Castrale, Cristie Kerr, Christina Kim, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome and Angela Stanford) squad and nine on the European (Helen Alfredsson, Becky Brewerton, Tania Elosegui, Maria Hjorth, Diana Luna, Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie, Gwladys Nocera, Anna Nordqvist) team. Team USA won the Cup 16-12 for the eighth time in 11 events.
JAPAN: Joint overnight leader Hiroyuki Fujita (Pro V1, 909H hybrid, Vokey Design Spin Milled gap and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter) secured his second title of the season with a two-shot victory at the Kansai Open. The 40-year-old, who stormed into contention following a course record 10-under par 61 in the third round, posted a final round three-under 71 to finish at 20-under 264. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Kansai Open Golf Championship with 49 players, compared to 38 for the nearest competitor. Titleist was also first in wedges (69) and second in hybrids (21).
WORLDWIDE PLAYER, WIN COUNTS: Titleist golf balls continue to be the top choice among players and winners across the worldwide professional tours. Year-to-date 13,881 players have teed up a Titleist, compared to 2,261 for the nearest competitor. Titleist players have also accumulated 99 wins, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 20.