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Posted: August 7, 2008
We're on the ground at Oakland Hills and Titleist brand ambassador Robert Karlsson caused an early stir. Karlsson, who is enjoying a career year on the PGA European Tour, got off to a slow start with a double bogey six on the first hole, but followed with birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 8 to make the turn at 3-under 32. The Swede made his sixth birdie in 10 holes on No. 11 before giving two shots back with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 to finish at 2-under 68. At 6 feet, 5 inches, Robert is one of the tallest players on tour. In 17 events this year he has accumulated nine Top 10 finishes, including a T-7 at the British Open, T-4 at the U.S. Open and T-8 at the Masters, and has risen from No. 41 to No. 22 in the Official World Golf Rankings since the start of the year. He put a couple of new 909 fairway metals (15° and 18°) in his bag for the first time last week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational where he finished T-20.
Click on the video player below to hear Robert's comments following his opening round.
Playing in the group following Karlsson was India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who was also making an early name for himself. Singh, who plays the Pro V1x golf ball, got off to a shaky start with a bogey on the first, but rebounded with an eagle on the 529-yard No. 2 and a birdie on No. 5. He will carry momentum into tomorrow following birdies on No. 15, a short par 4 (401 yards) and No. 17, a long par 3 (238 yards), to finish at 2-under 68 and tie with Karlsson for the lead in the clubhouse. Singh is another interesting player who is a virtual unknown in the U.S., but has had huge success in Asia and Europe. He became the first Indian player to participate in the Masters when he finished T-37 in 2007. He followed that performance up with a T-25 this year. He has one win to his credit this year, capturing the Bank Austria GolfOpen in June. Ranked 66th in the world, Singh is 13th on the Order of Merit.
Click on the video player below to hear what Jeev had to say about his opening round.
Titleist is also represented at the 2008 PGA Championship by the following nine full-line ambassadors from the PGA of America Professional ranks. Each of these PGA Professionals qualified for the championship at Oakland Hills via their finish at the PGA Professional National Championship contested in June at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia.
Sam Arnold, Cincinnati, OhioPro V1x Golf Balls909D2 Driver906F2 FairwayForged ZB IronsVokey Design 200 Series and Spin Milled WedgesScotty Cameron Futura Phantom Putter
Ryan Benzel, Bothell, WashingtonPro V1x Golf Balls909D2 Driver906F4 FairwayForged ZB and Forged ZM IronsVokey Design 200 Series and Spin Milled TVD WedgesScotty Cameron Newport Fastback Putter
Frank Esposito, Jr., Monroe, New JerseyPro V1x Golf Balls909D3 Driver906F4 Fairway585.H UtilitiesAP2 IronsVokey Design 200 Series WedgesScotty Cameron Newport 2.5 Putter
Scott Hebert, Traverse City, MichiganPro V1x Golf Balls909D2 Driver906F4 Fairway585.H UtilityAP2 IronsVokey Design 200 Series and Spin Milled TVD WedgesScotty Cameron Newport Putter
Vince Jewell, Euless, TexasPro V1x Golf Balls909D3 Driver906F4 Fairway585.H UtilityForged 670 IronsVokey Design Spin Milled TVD and Spin Milled WedgesScotty Cameron Mid Sur Putter
Alan Morin, Royal Palm Beach, FloridaPro V1x Golf Balls905T Driver904F FairwayForged 695CB IronsVokey Design 200 Series WedgesScotty Cameron Putter
Tim Thelan, College Station, TexasPro V1 Golf Balls909D2 Driver906F4 FairwayAP2 IronsVokey Design 200 Series and Spin Milled TVD WedgesScotty Cameron Newport 2 Putter
Tim Weinhart, Alpharetta, GeorgiaPro V1 Golf Balls905R DriverAP2 IronsVokey Design 200 Series and Spin Milled WedgesScotty Cameron Detour Putter
Don Yrene, Scottsdale, ArizonaPro V1x Golf Balls905S Driver906F4 FairwaysAP2 IronsVokey Design 200 Series WedgesScotty Cameron Newport Mil Spec Putter
Titleist is represented at the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan by the following 22 full-line ambassadors from the worldwide professional tours. Click on each player’s photo below to see what Titleist equipment they’re carrying in their bags as they compete in the year’s final major.
Click on the image below to launch a photo gallery featuring practice round action from the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
Titleist brand ambassador Adam Scott has been a favorite of the fans and media all week. The World No. 8 has finished among the top 25 at the PGA Championship five of the last six years, including a tie for 3rd in 2006.
Posted: August 4, 2008
Titleist ambassador Parker McLachlin claimed his first PGA Tour victory by seven strokes at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, finishing the tournament at 18-under 270. The 29-year old tied the course record with a 10-under 62 in the second round and set a 54-hole record at 20-under. He also earned an invitation to the PGA Championship with the win.
Parker had the following Titleist equipment in his bag at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open:
Parker's win marks the second in a row for the new Titleist 909 driver, following Chez Reavie's trip to the Canadian Open winner's circle last week. His is also the first professional win with a new 909 fairway. The Titleist 909 family of products will be available in select golf shops worldwide in October, with complete product information becoming available in September on Titleist.com.
For the week at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, Titleist was the most played golf ball with 79 players, more than all other golf balls combined. Titleist was also the top choice in the iron (33), wedge (118) and putter (48) categories. Titleist was second in drivers (30). Titleist equipment counts for PGA Tour and major PGA club professional and amateur events can be found at Golf Club Leaderboard on Titleist.com.
Titleist ambassador Parker McLachlin at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.