The recent bushfires in Southern Australia have almost been contained, but in their wake more than two hundred lives have been lost. The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and left 7,000 people homeless. It is the worst natural disaster to hit Australia in more than a century. Titleist Brand Ambassador and native Australian Adam Scott, is stepping up to help the victims of this catastrophe. Earlier this week Adam hosted a putting competition and golfing demonstration at the Sydney offices of Westpac Group, an Australian banking firm, in an effort to raise funds for the Victorian Bushfire Relief Appeal. Thus far, The Westpac Group has collected $9.3 million in donations from its customers. Early last week Westpac donated $1 million to the appeal, has matched employees’ donations to the appeal to the value of more than $570,000 and has offered victims of the tragedy a range of relief measures.

To learn more, visit the blog section of Adam's website at http://www.adamscott.com.au/.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Parker McLachlin is giving fans an inside the ropes glimpse at his life on Tour via the popular social networking service Twitter. According to Parker's website, ParkerMcLachlin.com (pictured below), beginning today he will be "periodically updating his Twitter "followers" on various items such as his scores, finishes at tournaments, special events, and his experiences and adventures on the PGA Tour." For more, be sure to visit his Twitter feed at Twitter.com/ParkerMcLachlin.

One of Parker's first updates references an article in today's Los Angeles Times regarding his recent pickup basketball game with then President-elect Obama. Click here to see the story.

Earlier this month, the first shipments of the New 2009 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls left Titleist's golf ball manufacturing facilities in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The next generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls have already made a splash in 2009, trusted by winners on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours. Now you, too, can elevate your game with the longer distance, improved scoring performance and greater durability of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

Recently, Eric Barzeski of TheSandTrap.com conducted a podcast to investigate the technological advancements of the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x, as well as discuss Titleist's ball fitting methodology, among other topics. His expert guests for the interview were George Sine, Titleist's Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing and Strategic Planning, and Bill Morgan, Titleist's Senior Vice President, Golf Ball Research and Development. Listen to the podcast in the Golf Talk section at thesandtrap.com to learn more about the most advanced golf balls Titleist has ever produced.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Marc Turnesa belongs to one of the great families of American golf. The first generation of Turnesa golfers included seven brothers, Marc's grandfather and great-uncles, six of whom played professionally with the seventh becoming one of the game's great career amateurs. Joe Turnesa, Jr., Marc's second cousin and a member of the second generation, led the Titleist Tour Leadership Department for a number of years and is a legend in the industry. Marc has embraced the responsibility of carrying on the Turnesa legacy on Tour, winning $1.3 million and the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals For Children Open in his rookie season last year.

Tim Rosaforte from Golf World recently profiled Marc and how he has handled representing his famous family on Tour. Be sure to check it out on the Golf World site.

Click here to read the article on the Golf World site.

Nick Watney's win at the Buick Invitational marks the fifth consecutive victory by a Titleist golf ball loyalist to start the 2009 PGA TOUR season. He follows Kenny Perry (FBR Open), Pat Perez (Bob Hope Classic), fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Zach Johnson (Sony Open), and Geoff Ogilvy (Mercedes Benz Championship) into this year's PGA TOUR winners' circle. Each champion trusted the Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for his winning success.

Titleist was the most played golf ball at the Buick Invitational with 102 players (65%), more than four times the nearest competitor with 25. Of the 102 players who trusted a Titleist golf ball at the Buick Invitational, 32 played the New 2009 Pro V1x and 22 played the New 2009 Pro V1. Among the New 2009 Pro V1 players was Camilo Villegas who tied for 3rd, two shots behind Watney, and Bubba Watson, who finished T-7, playing the New 2009 Pro V1x.

Titleist was also the top choice among all players at the Buick Invitational in the iron (47), wedge (158) and putter (65) categories. Titleist was second in drivers (43) and fairway metals (62). In fact, 4 of the top 10 finishers trusted Titleist equipment from tee-to-green. In addition to Watney, Matt Jones (Pro V1x, 905R driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 695MB irons, Vokey Design pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 SS) finished solo 5th, while Ben Crane (New 2009 Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metals, AP2 irons, Vokey Design approach and sand wedges, Spin Milled lob wedge, Scotty Cameron Fastback putter) and Charley Hoffman (Pro V1, 909D2 driver, 680 irons, Vokey Design pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Red X putter), were among four players who tied for 7th place.