FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (Nov. 26, 2012) – Titleist Brand Ambassador Rory McIlroy capped a memorable 2012 campaign with a two shot victory at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. It was a dramatic finish for the world's top ranked player who closed with five consecutive birdies for a final round six under par 66 and a 23-under 265 victory total. McIlroy, who had already secured the season-long Race to Dubai title, and World No. 2 Luke Donald, who won the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan last week playing the new Titleist Pro V1x prototype golf ball for the first time in competition, were tied for the lead entering the final round. Donald tied for third place after closing with a one under 71, posting his second consecutive top three finish with the new golf ball. Louis Oosthuizen, playing the new Titleist Pro V1x prototype golf ball this week for the first time, finished solo fifth, another shot back.
Donald and Oosthuizen’s top five finishes continue to validate the performance of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x prototype golf balls since seeding began with tour players at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October. Titleist Brand Ambassador Adam Scott joined Donald in the winners’ circle last week when he played the new Pro V1 prototype golf ball in his victory at the Australian Masters.
The victory was the fifth of the year for McIlroy and the 10th of his professional career. Among his victories this season was his second major in as many years - the PGA Championship – which he won by eight shots. He also won the money title on both the U.S. PGA and European Tours, a feat achieved by Donald last year. McIlroy is the first player since Pro V1x loyalist Lee Westwood in 2009 to win The Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship in the same year.
Quoting McIlroy: "I could not have wished for any better. To back up 2011 with another major and to be part of an unbelievable story at the Ryder Cup has made it an incredible year. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I said I wanted to win both trophies this week and that is exactly what I’ve managed to do. I knew I needed to do something special over the closing few holes. I really couldn’t have wished for a better ending.”
What's in Rory’s Bag?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, Titleist 913D3 driver (8.5), Titleist 913 Fd fairway metals (13.5, 18), Titleist MB irons (3-9), Vokey Design SM4 pitching (46), gap (54) and lob (60) wedges, Scotty Cameron GSS putter.
McIlroy's win marked the 23rd on the 2012 European Tour by a player trusting a Titleist golf ball for his success. That is nearly three times the nearest competitor with eight. A total of 3,334 players teed up a Titleist on the European Tour this year, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 696.
At the DP World Tour Championship, Titleist was the most played golf ball with 30 players in the field of 56, more than three times the nearest competitor with nine.
WINNING THE WORLD OVER: McIlroy’s victory, in combination with golf ball wins on the Australasian and South African Tours this week, advanced Titleist’s year-to-date win total to 183, more than seven times the nearest competitor with 24. Over 21,000 players have teed up a Titleist across the major worldwide professional tours this year, more than six times the nearest competitor.
SOUTH AFRICA: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball loyalist Jake Roos captured the inaugural Cape Town Open with a birdie on the second hole of a four man sudden death playoff that included Titleist Brand Ambassador Tyrone van Aswegen. All four players completed regulation play with a 9-under par, 279 total.
The win is the fifth of Roos' career, all of which have been secured in playoff fashion. Titleist Brand Ambassador Colin Nel (Pro V1x, 913D3 driver, 913F fairway metal, CB irons, Vokey Design wedges) and golf ball loyalist Keenan Davidse (Pro V1x) tied for fifth place, two shots out of the playoff.
Titleist was the most played golf ball at the event with 114 players (73%) in the field of 156, more than three times the nearest competitor with 36.
AUSTRALASIAN: For the first time since 1956, an amateur (Pro V1x, 913D2 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron GoLo putter) captured the New Zealand Open in Christchurch. A Golf Australia national team member, the winner posted a 7-under par total to finish one shot clear of Titleist Brand Ambassadors Peter Wilson (Pro V1, 913D3 driver, 913F fairway metal, 913H hybrid, AP2 irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) and Jason Norris (Pro V1x, 913D3 driver, 913H hybrid, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter).
Titleist was the most played ball at the New Zealand Open with 105 players (74%) in the field of 141, more than four times the nearest competitor with 25. The top three finishers and 12 of the 15 players that placed among the top 10 and ties relied upon a Titleist golf ball for their success.
