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Tri-Umphant

Els, Harrington, Smyth Trust Titleist in Worldwide Sweep

Padraig Harrington
Fairhaven, MA (March 14, 2005) – Though they were playing in different events a world apart, two of the game’s top players, Padraig Harrington and Titleist ambassador Ernie Els, rallied to capture tournaments on the U.S. PGA and PGA European tours, respectively. Meanwhile, Irishman Des Smyth earned his first career Champions Tour title with a one stroke victory at the SBC Classic. While separated by distance, all three winners had one thing in common. Titleist.

PGA TOUR: Irish eyes were smiling on Padraig Harrington at the beginning of this St. Patrick’s Day week, as the Republic of Ireland’s native son emerged victorious from an all-Titleist three-way playoff at The Honda Classic. It marked the first career PGA Tour title for Harrington, who relied upon the Pro V1x golf ball en route to establishing a new record for the largest come-from-behind win in tournament history. Harrington erased a 7-shot deficit with a final round 9-under par 63 to finish regulation at 14-under 274 with fellow Titleist golf ball loyalists Vijay Singh (Pro V1x) and Joe Ogilvie (New Pro V1). Ogilvie, who shot a bogey-free final round 68, was eliminated on the first playoff hole before Harrington's par topped Singh, who shot an 8-under 64 on Sunday, on the second extra hole.
Vijay Singh


It was the 10th career victory for Harrington, who has committed to playing a full-time PGA Tour schedule in 2005. His 63 matched his career-best round as a professional and tied The Country Club at Mirasol course record. This was the first time Harrington had ever played in The Honda Classic.

Six times as many players at the Honda Classic relied upon Titleist (96) golf balls than the nearest competitor (16), including 9 of the top 10 finishers. Titleist players following Harrington, Singh and Ogilvie on the leaderboard included Pat Perez (4th/New Pro V1x), David Toms (5th/New Pro V1), Brad Faxon (T6/New Pro V1), Geoff Ogilvy (T6/New Pro V1x), Brett Wetterich (T6/New Pro V1x) and Lucas Glover (T9/Pro V1x).

The driving distance leader at The Honda Classic relied upon the combination of the New Pro V1x golf ball and Titleist Pro Titanium 905T driver. The same player, who finished in a three-way tie for sixth, also posted the longest official drive of the tournament.

Joe Ogilvie
New Pro V1 player David Toms extended his PGA Tour-leading streak of consecutive rounds of par or better to 20 on Sunday with his second straight 5-under-par 67. Toms won the first event he ever played with the New Pro V1 golf ball (Accenture Match Play Championship), followed by consecutive 5th place finishes at the Ford Championship at Doral and The Honda Classic.

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Riding a wave of momentum and inner resolve under blustery Gulf conditions, Ernie Els rallied for his second consecutive PGA European Tour title. Starting the final round of the Qatar Masters five strokes behind the overnight leader, Els closed with a tournament-best 7-under par 65 for a one shot victory.

Ernie Els
Just as he did in his dramatic winning performance at the Dubai Desert Classic a week ago, Els relied upon the New Pro V1x golf ball and a full bag of Titleist golf equipment for his tee-to-green success. Els’ set composition included a new Titleist Pro Titanium 905T driver (9.5), new Titleist Pro Trajectory 904F 3-wood (15.0), Titleist Forged 670 irons (3-P), a Titleist prototype 2-iron, Vokey Design Spin Milled sand (54) and lob (60) wedges, and a Scotty Cameron by Titleist prototype putter.

The victory was the 55th of Els’ illustrious career, including his 20th on the PGA European Tour. He is the first player since Vijay Singh in 2001 to win back-to-back events on the PGA European Tour.

Els topped a leaderboard that included 8 of the top 10 finishers relying upon Titleist golf balls for their success. Titleist was the overwhelming favorite of the field with 111 players, compared to 23 for the nearest competitor.

Des Smyth
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth played the New Pro V1 golf ball en route to capturing the SBC Classic for his first career Champions Tour title. Smyth rallied with a final round 4-under par 68 Sunday to edge two players, including D.A. Weibring (New Pro V1).

Titleist players have won each the first five events on the 2005 Champions Tour. More than five times as many players relied upon Titleist (59) than the nearest competitor (11).

WORLDWIDE WINS: With another worldwide sweep this week, Titleist’s victory count across the worldwide professional tours advanced to 22, nearly three times more than the nearest competitor with 8, and more than all other golf balls combined.

DIRECT FROM THE TOUR: To view exclusive post-tournament interviews with The Honda Classic champion Padraig Harrington, please visit our Direct from the Tour feature online at www.titleist.com. Visit the site often for exclusive interviews with Titleist players following every round of every PGA Tour event.

Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE - FO). Titleist, Cobra, FootJoy, Pro V1, Pro V1x, Titleist Pro Titanium 905, Titleist Forged, Vokey Design and Scotty Cameron by Titleist are trademarks owned by Acushnet Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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