Austin Ernst Cruises to a Five-Shot Win At the Drive On Championship

By Zack R., Team Titleist Staff On 8 March 2021 Balls Tour Clubs

Austin Ernst (Pro V1x)

LPGA | Drive On Championship

One week after putting the NEW Pro V1x in play, Austin Ernst cruised to a five-shot win at Golden Ocala for her third-career victory on the LPGA.

  • Ernst led a 1-2-3 finish for Titleist golf ball players.
  • Jennifer Kupcho, who teed up NEW Pro V1  for the first time last week, finished second while Jenny Coleman (Pro V1x) earned the best finish of her career in third.
  • Ernst’s win was also the third-consecutive victory for Titleist golf ball players to begin the 2021 season, following wins by Pro V1 loyalists Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda.
  • Fast Fact: Nelly Korda won last week playing NEW Pro V1 for the first time.

ERNST FINDS IMMEDIATE SUCCESS WITH NEW PRO V1x

A longtime Pro V1 player, Ernst first tested the 2021 Pro V1x at home following the LPGA’s season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, where she had spoken with Jeff Beyers of Titleist Golf Ball R&D about the new models and her interest in gaining more height and spin.

“She really liked what she noticed during testing at home – the increased height and spin, and saw that she was also gaining some distance,” Beyers said. “The firmer feel of the Pro V1x was easy to get used to because of how well the ball was performing throughout the bag on full shots and the height and spin she was gaining.”

PGA TOUR | Arnold Palmer Invitational

Lee Westwood (Pro V1x) finished one shot back of the lead while Corey Conners (Pro V1) earned his best finish of the season (3rd), as Titleist golf ball players occupied seven of the top nine spots on the leaderboard.

  • Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice with 84 players, more than six times the nearest competitor (13).

TSi DRIVERS TOP CHOICE AT BAY HILL

Jordan Spieth (TSi3)

Titleist was the most played driver at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with 38 drivers in play, 11 more than the nearest competitor.

  • Of the 38 Titleist drivers in play, 37 were NEW TSi models, as TSi continues to be the most played driver model this season on the PGA Tour.
  • Seven of the top 17 players who finished T-10 or better – including Jordan Spieth (TSi3) and Richy Werenski (TSi4), who tied for fourth – played TSi drivers.
  • Titlest was also the top choice in utility irons, irons and wedges.

WIESBERGER, HOWELL III ADD NEW PHANTOM X

Players continue to make the switch to NEW Scotty Cameron Phantom X putters, with Bernd Wiesberger and Charles Howell III each gaming new models this week.

  • Wiesberger added a NEW Phantom X 11 tour prototype, commenting to Scotty Cameron Tour Rep Drew Page on the putter’s added stability.
  • Howell put a NEW Phantom X 11.5 tour prototype in the bag, the same model that Max Homa used in his victory two weeks ago at the Genesis Invitational. 
  • “Players keep talking about how well the 11 swings, and how well it sets up,” Page said. “When you put it down, it really sets up square, and that’s something a lot of players are looking for these days. You don’t want to be there looking down and second guessing, is it open or closed? There’s no doubt with the 11. It just sits so perfect on the ground and is very stable throughout the entire stroke. 

PGA TOUR AUSTRALASIA | Tournament Players Series Sydey

A record-tying four eagles over the first seven holes propelled Andrew Martin (Pro V1, U500 utility iron, 620 CB irons, Vokey Design SM8 wedges) to a career-low 10-under 61 and two-shot victory at Sydney’s Bonnie Doon Golf Club.

  • Martin, who started the day eight shots back of the leader, became the sixth player on a major professional tour to make four eagles in one round.
  • He holed out a pitching wedge for eagle on the par-4 third, before closing the front nine with three consecutive eagles on the par-5 7th (putt), par-4 eighth (pitch-in), and par-5 ninth (pitch-in).
    “I just wanted to shoot a good score to be honest. Try and jump up the leaderboard and four eagles obviously helped that,” he said.

SUNSHINE TOUR | Kit Kat Group Pro-Am

Rhys Enoch (Pro V1x)

Titleist Brand Ambassador Rhys Enoch (Pro V1x, TSi3 driver, TSi3 fairway, U500 utility, 620MB irons, SM8 Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron Future 5W tour prototype) birdied the final hole in regulation at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s East Course to close in 5-under 67 and clinch a one-shot victory over two players including fellow Pro V1x loyalist Jake Redman.

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