FAIRHAVEN, Mass.
— In competition, a shot on Thursday is every bit as critical as one on Sunday afternoon. This was proven once again by Titleist Brand Ambassadors Zach Johnson and Michael Sim, as they each earned their second victories of the season in playoff fashion, all while trusting the Pro V1x golf ball and bags of Titleist equipment. Johnson defended his Valero Texas Open title, which included a course record-tying 10-under par 60 in the third round. On the Nationwide Tour, Sim won for the second time in three starts, leaving him just one win shy of an in-season promotion to the PGA Tour. Titleist golf ball loyalists were also winning around the world with victories on the European, LPGA, Champions and South African Tours. TITLEIST HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 17, 2009 PGA TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Zach Johnson converted a 12-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to repeat as the Valero Texas Open champion. Seven months after winning for the first time at La Cantera Golf Club in San Antonio, Johnson followed up a third round 10-under par 60, with a final round even-par 70 for a 15-under 265 total, good enough to force a sudden-death playoff. Fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Bill Haas (Pro V1, 909D2 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, AP2 irons, Vokey Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 SLT T-10 putter) and Paul Goydos (Pro V1) tied for 3rd place, just one shot out of the playoff. It marked the second victory of the year for Johnson, who also won the Sony Open, the season’s first full-field event. It was also the sixth win of Johnson’s PGA TOUR career, and vaulted him to the top of the 2009 FedEx Cup standings. Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Valero Texas Open with 99 players, more than three times the nearest competitor with 30. Titleist was also first in wedges (146) and putters (64). Johnson’s victory marks the 12th by a Titleist golf ball loyalist on the 2009 PGA TOUR, three times more than the nearest competitor with 4, and more than all other golf balls combined. WHAT’S IN ZACH JOHNSON’S TITLEIST BAG: Pro V1x golf ball, 909D2 driver (8.5), 909F2 3-wood (13.5), 909F2 5-wood (18.5), 909H hybrid (21), AP2 irons (4-9), Vokey Design pitching (48) and sand (54) wedges and Spin Milled lob (60) wedge. EUROPEAN TOUR: A local hero became just the third amateur to win on the European Tour, capturing The 3 Irish Open with a par on the third extra hole. The 22-year old Irishman and Walker Cup squad member, was playing his first-ever European Tour event. He shot a second round 62, which equaled the lowest round ever by an amateur on the European Tour circuit. The playoff participants finished regulation at 17-under par 271. While the winner could not accept the first prize money, he is expected to decide on Monday whether to turn professional. Should he turn pro, he will participate at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
What’s in the Bag: Pro V1x golf ball, 909D2 driver (8.5), 909F2 3-wood (15.5), 909H hybrid (19), AP2 irons (3-9), Vokey Design pitching (48) and sand (52) wedges, Spin Milled lob (58) wedge, Scotty Cameron Fastback putter.