FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (May 7, 2012) – Titleist golf ball loyalist Rickie Fowler earned his first career PGA Tour win in an all-Pro V1x sudden death playoff at the Wells Fargo Championship. Fowler, Titleist Brand Ambassador Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points all finished regulation at 14-under 274, before Fowler delivered a clutch wedge shot to four-feet and converted the winning birdie putt on the first extra hole. Fowler fired a final round 3-under 69, while McIlroy and Points closed with 70 and 71, respectively, to reach the playoff.
- Titleist Brand Ambassador Webb Simpson (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, 680 irons, Vokey Design SM4 pitching and TVD sand and lob wedges) finished solo 4th, one shot out of the playoff.
- Titleist golf ball loyalists occupied the top eight positions on the leaderboard. Following Fowler, McIlroy, Points and Simpson on the first page were three players who tied for 5th, including Lee Westwood (Pro V1x) and Titleist Brand Ambassador Ben Curtis (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910Fd fairway metal, 910H hybrids, AP1 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled gap and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2), while Titleist Brand Ambassador Nick Watney (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metals, AP2 irons, Vokey Design SM4 sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron GSS putter) finished alone in 8th. Westwood fired a tournament-best final round 6-under 66 that included a 30 through the first nine holes after posting four birdies and an eagle.
- McIlroy, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on May 4, won his first career PGA TOUR title at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2010 at the age of 20. Fowler accomplished the same feat at age 23. Fowler also edged McIlroy at last year’s Korea Open to earn his first victory as a professional.
- McIlroy's performance at the Wells Fargo Championship vaulted him back into the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking heading into this week's PLAYERS Championship.
- In addition to finishing atop the leaderboard at the Wells Fargo Championship, the three playoff participants were also among the top statistical leaders. Relying upon his Pro V1x golf ball, Rickie Fowler finished T2 in Driving Accuracy (62.5%), T5 in Greens in Regulation (79.2%) and 13th in Driving Distance (305.9).
-The Wells Fargo winner also relied upon four Vokey Design wedges (48, 50, 55 and 59 degree lofts) and trusted his Scotty Cameron Select GoLo putter to tie for 21st in Putts Per Greens in Regulation (1.737). This week’s champion first switched to the GoLo at the WGC-Match Play Championship following a visit to the Scotty Cameron Putter Studio and a few practice sessions on Tour. The reason for the switch from his previous gamer was that he felt like his aim was much better on putts inside 15 feet with the GoLo. He commented that he liked to 'feel' the ball in the hole on those length putts with his previous putter, but with the GoLo all he has to do is "aim and fire."
- Rory McIlroy was among the leaders in each of the major tee-to-green statistical categories. Off the tee, McIlroy ranked 1st in Driving Distance at 330.9 yards. He also tied for 5th in Greens in Regulation (79.2%), tied for 14th in Sand Saves (75%) and was 17th in Strokes Gained - Putting (.830). McIlroy relies upon the Pro V1x golf ball and a complete bag of Titleist golf clubs for his success, including the 910D2 driver, 906F2 fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design SM4 pitching, sand and lob wedges and a Scotty Cameron GSS putter.
- D.A. Points was 1st in Greens in Regulation (80.6%) playing the Pro V1x golf ball.
- Ben Curtis remained red-hot following his win at the Valero Texas Open two weeks ago, finishing T13 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and T5 at Quail Hollow. Trusting the Pro V1x golf ball and a full bag of Titleist equipment, he finished among the top 10 in each of the following statistical categories at the Wells Fargo Championship: Driving Accuracy (T9/57.1%), Strokes Gained-Putting (7/1.323), Putts Per Round (T7/27.8) and Putts Per Greens in Regulation (T9/1.700).
WINNER’S CIRCLE: With Fowler's victory, Titleist players have now accumulated 14 golf ball wins on the 2012 PGA TOUR, compared to 2 for the nearest competitor. From tee-to-green, Titleist is also the top choice of more PGA TOUR winners in every major club equipment category, including drivers (6), fairway metals (7), hybrids (4), irons (7), wedges (9) and putters (7).
SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR: Playing under a Modified Stableford scoring system (8 points/albatross, 5 points/eagle, 2 points/birdie, 0 points/par. -1 point/bogey, -3 points/double bogey or worse), Titleist Brand Ambassador Christiaan Basson (Pro V1x, 910D2 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, CB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Kombi putter) captured the Investec Royal Swazi Sun Open by one point with a 50-point victory total. The win was Basson's first in three years, edging fellow Pro V1x loyalists Danie van Tonder (Pro V1x, Vokey Design SM4 wedges, Scotty Cameron Timeless putter) and Desvonde Botes by one point. Fifty of the 72 players in the field (69%) relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success.
