FAIRHAVEN, Mass. -- In a performance fit for a champion, Titleist ambassador Ryuji Imada earned his first career PGA Tour victory in a thrilling sudden death playoff at the AT&T Classic. It took a belief in himself and complete trust in his bag of Titleist equipment to top fellow Pro V1x player Kenny Perry and a leaderboard that included 8 Titleist golf ball players among the top 10 finishers. Imada became the 12th different player to win trusting a Titleist golf ball on the PGA Tour this season. That’s more than all other golf balls combined and twice the nearest competitor. Additional wins by Titleist golf ball players on the Nationwide, Champions and South African Tours advances Titleist’s year-to-date victory count to 63, nearly four times the nearest competitor with 16.
Titleist Highlights for Week Ending May 18, 2008
PGA TOUR: Imada captured the AT&T Classic with a par on the first hole of the playoff with Perry. The two finished regulation at 15-under 273. Imada closed with a 5-under 67, including a birdie on the 72nd hole to advance to the playoff. Perry, playing in the final group, shot a final round 69, his fourth consecutive round in the 60s.
- Imada has been a runner-up three times on the PGA TOUR, including twice already this season. He was edged in this same tournament in a playoff by fellow Titleist ambassador Zach Johnson last year. Imada is a fan favorite at this event contested at TPC Sugarloaf, just outside Atlanta. A native of Japan, Imada attended University of Georgia. The win means he will return to Georgia next year, attaining his dream of playing in the Masters.
- What's in Ryuji Imada's bag?: Pro V1x golf ball, 905R driver (9.5), 906F2 3 and 5 woods (13.0, 18.0), 695CB irons (4-9), Vokey Design pitching (48), approach (53) and lob (61) wedges, Scotty Cameron prototype putter.
- Camilo Villegas (Pro V1, Vokey Design Spin Milled sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Circa 62 #6 putter) finished solo third, one shot back after shooting a final round 66. Jonathan Byrd (Pro V1) was another stroke behind in solo fourth.
- Another Titleist ambassador, Parker McLachlin (Pro V1x, 905R driver, 585.H utility metal, AP2 irons, Vokey Design approach, sand and lob wedges), shot a final round 67 to finish T5 with two other players, including Justin Bolli (Pro V1, 695MB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled approach, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron putter). In fact, 8 of the top 10 finishers at the AT&T Classic relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success.
- Titleist was the most played golf ball at The AT&T Classic with 100 players, compared to the nearest competitor with 22. In addition, Titleist was tied for first in irons (38), and first in wedges (147) and putters (62).
- With Imada's victory, Scotty Cameron putters have been the winning choice of 12 champions on the 2008 PGA TOUR, three times the nearest competitor with four. In fact, Cameron loyalists have been on a roll, winning six of the last seven events (including the Masters) and nine of the last 11. Imada's handmade prototype putter featured a Del Mar head shape with an "almost" center shaft.
DIRECT FROM THE TOUR: To view exclusive round-by-round interviews with Titleist players from every PGA TOUR event, including AT&T Classic winner Ryuji Imada, please visit our Direct from the Tour feature online at: http://www.titleist.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
TITLEIST TOUR BLOG: Find out what's going on inside the ropes at every PGA TOUR event and on tours across the world, and ask questions of our Titleist Tour Leadership staff by visiting the Titleist Tour Blog at: http://www.titleisttourblog.com/
TITLEIST GOLF CLUB LEADERBOARD: To learn about Titleist's golf club success on the PGA Tour, the PGA Professional National Championship and at major amateur events throughout the year, visit the Titleist Golf Club leaderboard at: http://www.titleist.com/leaderboard/default.asp
Contact: Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211)
