It was an all-Titleist golf ball sudden death playoff at the Sony Open in Hawaii where Titleist Brand Ambassador Patton Kizzire (Pro V1x) topped James Hahn (Pro V1x) with a par on the sixth extra hole. Both players finished regulation at 17-under-par 263, one shot clear of Kizzire’s fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Tom Hoge (Pro V1). Hoge’s finish was his best ever on the PGA Tour.

Kizzire becomes the first player to win multiple times on the 2017-18 PGA Tour, having captured the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November. It marks his second career win and the second in his last four events.

"Experience is huge," said Kizzire after the win, "especially going toe to toe with Rickie there in Mexico (Kizzzire battled Pro V1 loyalist Rickie Fowler at the OHL). That was big for me to come out on top and to know that I can do it and to see myself do it. I used that experience today. It was a wild day, and it was fun to come out on top."

Kizzire topped a leaderboard on which each of the top six finishers relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success.

The newest Titleist Brand Ambassador, Brian Harman, who finished solo 3rd at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, posted his fifth consecutive top 8 finish to start the 2017-18 season with a T4 at the Sony Open. In addition to his performances in Hawaii, Harman finished T5 at the CJ Cup, 8th at the WGC-HSBC Champions, and T4 at the RSM Classic, where he lives in Sea Island, Ga.

With the victory, Kizzire reclaims the No. 1 spot in this year's FedExCup race, a position he has every intention of holding on to.

"The first win was big," said Kizzire, "and this one is even bigger. To get a leg up on the FedExCup and go back to No. 1. Our ultimate goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the year. We've got a long way to go, but a fast start is always a positive. I'm excited to be back on top and look forward to taking that Cup."

Congratulations to Patton and good luck the rest of the season!

•••

Let's take a closer look at the Titleist equipment that Patton Kizzire, James Hahn, Tom Hoge, Brian Harman, Webb Simpson and Brian Stuard trusted this week in Hawaii.

Patton Kizzire(winner)

Golf Ball: Pro V1x

Driver: 917D3 (10.5) 

Fairway: 917F2 (16.5)

Hybrid: 913H2 (19)

Irons: 718 T-MB (4), 718 CB (5-6), 718 MB (7-9)

Wedges: Vokey Design prototype SM7 pitching (48.08 F Grind), gap (52.12 F Grind), sand (56.08 M Grind) and lob (60.06 K Grind)

Putter: Scotty Cameron GoLo Tour

 

James Hahn (2nd)

Golf Ball: Pro V1x

Tom Hoge (3rd) 

Golf Ball: Pro V1

Driver: 9175D2 (8.5) 

Fairways: 917F2 (13.5)

Hybrid: 913Hd (18.0) 

Irons: 718 CB (4), 718 MB (5-PW)

Wedges: Vokey Design prototype SM7 gap (52.08 F-grind), sand (56.08 M grind) and lob (60° V grind)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport Fastback Select

 

Brian Harman (T4) 

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Driver: 917D2 (8.5) 

Fairways: 917F2 (15.0, 18.0) 

Irons: 718 CB (3, 5-9)

Wedges: Vokey Design prototype SM7 pitching (46.10 F Grind), gap (50.08 F Grind) and sand (54.10 S Grind)

Webb Simpson (T4) 

Golf Ball: Pro V1

Driver: 917D3 (10.5) 

Fairways: 913Fd (18.0)

Hybrid: 913Hd (20.0), 915 Hd (23.5) 

Irons: 718 MB (5-PW)

Wedges: Vokey Design prototype SM7 sand (54) and SM5 lob (60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS

Brian Stuard (T4) 

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

• • •

TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS

The Sony Open in Hawaii was the first full-field event of the 2018 calendar year, and Titleist was the top choice among players in the golf ball (105), hybrid (24), iron (45), wedge (200) and putter (57) categories.

Titleist golf ball loyalists have now won 8 of the first 10 events of the 2017-18 season.

Titleist also tops all competitors in victories in the hybrid (3), iron (4), wedge (6) and putter (6) categories.

#TeamTitleist 

* Equipment counts provided by Darrell Survey