-- Team Titleist
Fairhaven, MA (May 21, 2012) - Titleist Brand Ambassador Jason Dufner charged to his second PGA Tour in stunning fashion, just 22 days after winning his first.
Trusting a Pro V1 golf ball and a bag full of Titleist equipment, Dufner converted a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole to capture the HP Byron Nelson Classic by one shot and lead a four-win week for Titleist golf ball players around the globe.
Following in Dufner's recent footsteps, Azahara Munoz (Pro V1) and Jay Choi (Pro V1x) each found the winner's circle for the first time on the LPGA and Japan Tours, respectively, while Nicolas Colsaerts (Pro V1x) claimed the biggest win of his career in Europe.
Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x players have now combined for 61 victories across the worldwide professional tours in 2012, more than eight times the nearest competitor with 7. A total of 7,571 players have teed up Titleist golf balls in those same events, more than six times the nearest competitor with 1,235.
Dufner, who closed in 3-under 67 for an 11-under 269 victory total, edged Pro V1 loyalist Dicky Pride, while putting on a clinic when it came to the key statistical categories.
Dufner, who carries AP2 irons and Vokey Design SM4 sand (54) and lob (60) wedges, led the field in Greens in Regulation at 80.6 percent. Adding substance to that stat was the fact that he also ranked 2nd for the week in Driving Accuracy (75%) trusting his Titleist 910D2 driver (9.5). For his success on the greens, Dufner relied upon his Scotty Cameron GSS Circa 62 No. 2 prototype putter. His tee-to-green trust in Titleist equipment all added up to 19 birdies (tied for first), including two over his final three holes on Sunday.
Dufner broke through with his first PGA Tour victory April 29 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. A week later, he got married. As of today, he is No. 1 in the FedExCup Playoff standings and advanced to No. 14 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
"You probably couldn't dream it any better than what's been going on here. ...," he said. "To win two events and get married in the span of 22 days, pretty remarkable."
Dufner was one of 102 players in the field that relied on Titleist golf balls, more than five times the nearest competitor. Titleist golf ball players occupied four of the top six position on the leader board, including Titleist Brand Ambassador Marc Leishman (Pro V1x) and rookie Jonas Blixt (Pro V1x), who tied for third.Titleist was also first in sand, lob and approach wedges (121); and putters (62).
Here's a closer look at Jason Dufner's Titleist equipment:Ball: Titleist Pro V1; Driver: Titleist 910D2 9.5º; 3-wood: Titleist 910F 13.5º; 5-wood: Titleist 906F2 18º; Hybrid: Titleist 910H 19º; Irons: Titleist AP2 (4-PW); Wedges: Vokey Design SM4 54º, 60º; Putter: Scotty Cameron GSS Circa 62 No. 2 Prototype
• EUROPEAN TOUR: Pro V1x loyalist Nicolas Colsaerts claimed his second-career European Tour title Sunday at Volvo World Match Play Championship. The long-hitting Colsaerts, who captured his first career win at the 2011 Volvo China Open, triumphed on a severely windy day, with winds gusting over 30 mph.
Three of the final four players relied upon Pro V1x golf balls for their success. Colsaert's semifinal match with Paul Lawrie (Pro V1x) in the morning began with him losing the first four holes, but he then rallied to win on the 20th hole. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Pro V1x) dropped his semifinal match on the final hole.
• LPGA: It was an all-Pro V1 final at the Sybase Match Play Championship, where Azahara Munoz topped Candie Kung, 2 and 1, to win her first LPGA title. After making the turn all square, Munoz took control of the finale by rolling her Pro V1 in for birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 to take a 2-up lead. It was a lead she would not relinquish. "It feels amazing," said Munoz, who sealed the win with a par at No. 17.
• JAPAN TOUR: Jay Choi (Pro V1x) posted a bogey-free 7-under 65 to come from behind and earn his first Japan Golf Tour win by one shot at the Totoumi Hamamatsu Open 2012. Choi closed out his final round with four one-putts and two birdies, including his winning birdie on the 18th. He finished at 16-under 272.