Molinari crowned European #1 to conclude a record-breaking season for Titleist

As the 2018 European Tour season concluded in Dubai, Titleist golf ball loyalist Francesco Molinari claimed the Race to Dubai title, rounding-off another year of success for the #1 ball in golf. 

Molinari topped the Race to Dubai rankings after pipping his Ryder Cup partner, Tommy Fleetwood, who also plays Pro V1x. 2018 has seen Molinari claim a flawless 5-0 record at Paris National in the Ryder Cup, win the BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth, claim his maiden PGA Tour victory and the 147th Open Championship title, to make it by far the most successful season of his career to date.

This season saw more players rely upon the performance excellence of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf ball at every one of the 51 events making up the Race to Dubai, with Titleist golf ball loyalists amassing an incredible 29 victories including all of the men’s Major championships, a streak that stretches back to the 2017 U.S. Open.

Joining the Race to Dubai champion in trusting Titleist, a staggering 72 per cent of all European Tour players chose to tee up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x this season, compared to 11 per cent for the nearest competitor. 

The proven performance of the Pro V1 family was evident on worldwide tours this season, with the #1 ball in golf securing all four of the men’s Majors, and all five Major championships on the ladies’ circuit. In total, Titleist golf ball users amassed a total of 12 Major victories across the men’s, women’s and seniors’ tours throughout the year.

Whilst Molinari was wrapping up his Race to Dubai title, over on the PGA Tour Titleist was breaking more records. In the RSM Classic at Sea Island, Titleist golf ball usage hit 83 per cent (129 in play), the highest count since 1996. 

The winner of the RSM Classic, Charles Howell III, put an end to his 4,292 day wait to secure his third victory on the PGA Tour. The victory marked the first win on the PGA Tour for the new 2019 prototype golf ball since its seeding began to players at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open two weeks ago. 

Carrying 13 Titleist golf clubs, including the new TS3 driver and two TS2 fairway metals which he put into play for the first time at last month’s CIMB Classic, Howell opened up the tournament carding a stellar 64 having hit 100% of fairways and greens. In addition, there were more combined Titleist METALS played than any other brand with 112 in play. This win marks the 17th victory for TS drivers across the worldwide professional tours and the third on the PGA TOUR since its introduction.

Michael Creighton, Titleist Brand Director, UK Region said, “We are extremely proud that more players on the European Tour chose to tee up a Titleist golf ball this season. It is also a fantastic achievement for us to claim all of the men’s and women’s Major championships for 2018. The success our golf ball loyalists have had is testament to the unrivalled performance of Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls.”

Creighton concluded, “From everyone on the Titleist team, we offer huge congratulations to Francesco Molinari on a season to remember, and a massive thank you to all the players not just on the European Tour, but all over the world, who placed their trust in the #1 ball in golf this season.”