Ben Silverman didn’t have to look up his pairings for the fourth round of the Farmers Insurance Open last Sunday. His phone began vibrating as soon as they were announced.

Silverman was paired with golfing great Tiger Woods for the final round of the PGA Tour event in a trio with Scott Stallings. Silverman, from Thornhill, Ont., was inundated with texts from friends and family thrilled that he would be playing alongside the legendary Woods for the first time in his career.

“I had about 20 or 30 messages within about two hours of the tee times being released,” said Silverman. “Everybody already knew. My wife gets the text messages directly from the PGA Tour so she knew right away.”

There are pros and cons to playing a round of golf with Woods. It was exciting to watch the 14-time major winner up close, but the massive gallery that trails Woods from hole to hole can be a distraction.

Silverman shot a 3-over 75 on Sunday to finish the tournament tied for 62nd at 2 under. Woods (67) moved 28 spots up the leaderboard in the final round to tie for 20th at 10 under and Stallings (72) tied for 43rd at 5 under. Justin Rose won the event by two strokes, firing a 21-under par overall.

The key thing Silverman took away from the experience was the way Woods exudes confidence.

“He expects to hit a good shot every time, he expects to have a chance to make birdie, and he expects to make the putt,” said Silverman. “That attitude, the way he’s approaching everything, he doesn’t care whether he’s on the easiest hole of the course or the hardest hole of the course.

“That changed my perspective a little bit because he’s trying to win every single shot he’s playing. I thought it was pretty cool to see and witness first hand and that’s the kind of attitude that helps you win 80 golf tournaments.”

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., played with Woods in Saturday’s third round. It was Hughes’s second time playing with Woods, as they had been paired with each other for the 2018 Players Championship.

That previous experience helped Hughes feel more comfortable playing alongside Woods, but he agrees with Silverman that there’s nothing quite like it.

“You definitely can feel that energy and that confidence,” said Hughes, who finished the Farmers Insurance Open tied for 29th at 8 under. “He carries himself like a guy who’s won a lot and knows how to do it.

“You just feel like you’re in the middle of an arena, like there’s only you two out there. It’s the wildest thing ever. You feel like you’re in a tournament within a tournament.”

Tiger Woods & Mackenzie Hughes (Getty Images)

An unexpected perk for Silverman was the handful of security guards that keep a watchful eye over Woods. Although protecting Woods was their duty, they would also help clear out crowds if Stallings’ or Silverman’s shots went off line. At one point Silverman needed a bathroom break and the security detail was right there to guide him through the massive crowd.

As beneficial as that personal entourage was, it’s Woods’s strong psychology that’s going to stick with Silverman.

“I think I’m just going to remember those mental lessons I took away from playing with Tiger and take that attitude into the tournament,” said Silverman. “I played the Monday qualifier for the Phoenix Open with that attitude and it was definitely a much different way to approach shots and the course and I liked it a lot.”

Silverman did not quality for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and will next play at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.

Hughes will be joined at the event in Phoenix by fellow Canadians David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., as well as Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C.

“If I can just drive it a little bit better, I mean I’m driving it pretty well, but if I can find just a few more fairways, that’s going to add up better scores,” said Hughes. “I’m feeling good about my prep and how my game is progressing. It should be a pretty good week, I like the course a lot.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced today that current Vice President of Marketing Partnerships, Alexandra “Alex” Baldwin, has been named President of the Web.com Tour. With the announcement, Baldwin becomes the first female in history to lead one of the PGA TOUR’s six global Tours as President.

Dan Glod, who has served as President of the Web.com Tour since January of 2017, has been elevated to Senior Vice President, Global Sponsorship Strategy and Development in a corresponding announcement.

“We are excited to announce Alex as the new President of the Web.com Tour in what is a watershed moment for our organization,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “In her role as Vice President of Marketing Partnerships, Alex has spearheaded our efforts to provide increased value to our PGA TOUR partners and I know she will have that same level of success on the Web.com Tour. We thank Dan Glod for his tremendous leadership with our partners, tournaments and membership over these last two years and know the Web.com Tour has a great foundation which Alex can continue to build upon.”

Baldwin joined the PGA TOUR in 2017 as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, where she was responsible for co-leading the Marketing Partnership team and overseeing key partner account teams including Morgan Stanley, Dell, Omni Hotel and Resorts and United Airlines, among others. In addition to spearheading partner oversight, she negotiated extensions and new programs with partners including Avis, MD Anderson, Rolex and Citi.

“I am thrilled for this opportunity to lead the Web.com Tour while drawing on years of experience in golf, sports and business,” said Baldwin. “The Web.com Tour is a tremendous avenue through which we’re able to develop the next generation of PGA TOUR stars, and I’m eager to learn as much as possible about our partners, tournaments and communities as we look to build on the Tour’s incredible 30-year foundation.”

We've announced the first female Tour President in @PGATOUR history.

Welcome aboard, Alex Baldwin! https://t.co/FMtA5x3mUl

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) January 30, 2019

Prior to joining the PGA TOUR, Baldwin was a Corporate Consulting Executive at CAA Sports in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, working with major brands on their strategy and activation plans in sports and entertainment. During that time, she worked strategically with Waste Management and the Waste Management Phoenix Open as well as Synchrony Financial, CVS Health and Concur among others.

For 10 years prior to joining CAA, Baldwin was with Boston-based Fenway Sports Management, consulting clients and driving sales efforts around premier golf properties, including the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Baldwin’s career began in 1992 as an intern with International Management Group (IMG), where she eventually rose to agent, representing the likes of LPGA stars Karrie Webb and Suzann Pettersen, as well as PGA TOUR winners Brad Faxon and Carlos Franco.

The Web.com Tour’s Country Club de Bogotá Championship begins tomorrow in Bogotá, Colombia. The event is the third of 27 tournaments on the Tour’s 2019 schedule, which will conclude with the sixth-annual Web.com Tour Finals in August and September.

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. and ST ANDREWS, Scotland  – The USGA and The R&A have released the 2018 Annual Driving Distance Report, containing driving-distance data from seven men’s and women’s professional golf tours around the world. This is the fourth annual distance report issued by the game’s governing bodies, completed in an effort to monitor current trends in driving distance.

The 2018 data show that driving distances on these seven tours increased by an average of 1.7 yards, beyond the previous year’s gain of more than 3 yards.

The full report, which can be found via this link, summarizes data provided by the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Web.com Tour and PGA TOUR Champions Tour based on available data at the time of publication. Introduced in 2015, the report includes data starting with the 1968 PGA TOUR season.

The average driving distance is typically measured on two holes at each tournament and usually results in nearly 40,000 shots being measured over the course of a season on some tours.

The USGA and The R&A continue to be diligent in studying the long-term effect of distance on the game of golf, a global focus first expressed in their Joint Statement of Principles delivered in 2002.

In that document, the organizations reinforced their commitment to ensure that skill is the dominant element of success throughout the game, and that all factors contributing to distance would be considered on a regular basis.

The 2018 report represents one set of data among the already substantial collection of information currently being studied within the context of the ongoing Distance Insights project, which was launched last May to provide a comprehensive and definitive study of the past, present and future impacts of distance at all levels of the game globally.

A progress update on work conducted to date on the Distance Insights project will be delivered by the end of the first quarter of 2019. The USGA and The R&A remain on target to distribute the comprehensive Distance Insights report in the latter half of 2019.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Two Canadians have secured spots in this week’s PGA Tour stop through qualifying.

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., survived a four-man playoff for the final three spots in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Hamilton, Hearn and Americans Max Homa and Nick Hardy all shot seven-under 65 in the Monday qualifier before returning to the course Tuesday morning for the playoff. Hardy was eliminated on the first hole of the playoff.

Hearn and Hamilton join Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., in the tournament, which starts Thursday.

While Hearn has partial status on the PGA Tour, the 25-year-old Hamilton never has been a member of golf’s top circuit. He split time last year between Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

Hearn and Hamilton have qualified for the @WMPhoenixOpen ????

They join fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin in the field ??

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 29, 2019

SAN DIEGO – Justin Rose missed a short birdie putt that felt like another bogey. His three-shot lead was down to one through six holes of the Farmers Insurance Open, and the biggest battle was trying not to panic.

That’s when he scratched a line on his scorecard after six holes, wanting to start his round from that moment forward.

And he gave himself a pep talk.

“You’re No. 1 for a reason. Just start playing like it, please,” he said.

And he did.

Rose followed with a perfect wedge to a right pin that led to birdie, the first of five birdies the rest of the way for a 3-under 69 and a two-shot victory Sunday over Adam Scott at Torrey Pines. It was his 10th straight year with a victory worldwide, including his gold medal from the 2016 Olympics, and his 10th career PGA Tour victory gave him the most of any player from England, breaking a tie with Nick Faldo.

Rose finished at 21-under 267, the lowest 72-hole score at this event in 20 years, and the warm, windless weather had a role in that.

“Twenty-one under around Torrey Pines is great golf,” Rose said. “But you had to do it. It felt like I had to work hard for his.”

Scott left him little choice. After not making a birdie until the ninth hole – and missing a 20-inch par putt on No. 5 – Scott closed with four straight birdies and kept the outcome in doubt until Rose hit wedge to 3 feet on the 18th hole for his last birdie.

“I just didn’t have the game on the front nine, and it’s a shame because Justin was a little shaky early with some bogeys,” Scott said. “By the time I got it sorted out, it was a bit too late.”

Rose became the first player to post all four rounds in the 60s since Peter Jacobsen in 1995, back when the North and South courses were 700 yards shorter. Weather aside, this was an exquisite performance, especially with his three penalty shots on Saturday, and opening the final round with three bogeys in five holes.

Hideki Matsuyama closed with a 67 and tied for third with Talor Gooch, who shot 68. Gooch, who finished fourth last week in the Desert Classic to get into this event, earned a spot in next week’s Phoenix Open. He is playing this year on conditional status.

Jon Rahm was never a factor after pulling within one shot with that birdie on No. 6, which turned out to be the only one he made all round. He shot 72 and tied for fifth with Rory McIlroy (69) and defending champion Jason Day (67).

Tiger Woods had to settle for his own version of winning. Starting the final round 13 shots behind, Woods wanted to get into double figures. He birdied his last two holes for a 31 on the front nine to shoot 67 and finish at 10-under 278. He tied for 20th in his 2019 debut.

“Got to have these little goals when I’m not in contention to win a tournament,” Woods said. “Still something positive to end the week on.”

Mackenzie Hughes (70) of Dundas, Ont., was the top Canadian, finishing in a tie for 29th. Adam Svensson (75) of Surrey, B.C., dropped down the leaderboard Sunday, closing in a tie for 35th. While Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford, B.C., and Ben Silverman (75) of Thornhill, Ont., ended up in ties for 43rd and 62nd, respectively.

The timing was ideal for Rose, who takes pride in winning every year. The last time he won in January was in South Africa in 2002, the first of his 22 victories worldwide. But it goes beyond that.

Rose dedicated the victory to his caddie, Mark Fulcher, who had a heart procedure last week and was watching from home. Rose used Gareth Lord, who previously caddied for Henrik Stenson and knows Rose well from Ryder Cup partnerships.

“Probably harder than the heart surgery itself, watching this weekend,” Rose said. “This one’s for him.”

It also was his first victory since signing new equipment deal with Japanese-based Honma, leading Rose to switch out everything but the golf ball.

Even though Rose never lost the lead, and led by at least two the entire back nine, there were a few key moments.

He got up-and-down from delicate spots to save par on the 13th and 14th hole, and made an 8-foot par putt on No. 15 with Scott in tight for birdie, keeping the lead at three shots. On the par-3 16th, Rose holed a 30-foot birdie putt, right before Scott followed him in for birdie from 20 feet. And then Scott closed the gap to two shots with an approach inside a foot on the 17th, giving him a chance on the 18th.

The Australian missed his tee shot on the par-5 18th into a bunker and had to lay up, and Rose effectively ended it with his wedge to 3 feet. Scott also made birdie, a great finish that barely allowed him to make up any ground. His 269 was the same score Woods had in 2008 when he won at Torrey Pines by eight shots. Only four other scores have been lower since this event moved to Torrey in 1968, all of them before it was beefed up ahead of the U.S. Open.

“He’s the No. 1 player in the world, and he’s showing why,” Scott said.

SAN DIEGO – Justin Rose tracked the flight of his 3-wood until he saw it splash into the pond guarding the 18th green at Torrey Pines. He walked a few steps and pulled his cap down over his eyes, the look of a man who had just made a crucial mistake at the wrong time.

Not really.

This was only Saturday.

Rose wasn’t happy that he finished up the third round with a bogey at the Farmers Insurance Open, but it didn’t take away from a game so strong that having his lead cut in half over the closing five holes was no cause for alarm.

Even with three penalty shots on the day, Rose still managed a 3-under 69 and a three-shot lead, the same margin with which he began the day.

He’s playing that well.

Adam Scott had the low round of the week on the South course with a 65, which pulled him within three shots and it still felt like a consolation.

“As good as I’m playing, I feel like I’m a long way behind,” Scott said.

Rose had six birdies and an eagle that more than atoned for his mistakes. Even with two double bogeys and the bogey on the par-5 18th, he still matched the 54-hole tournament record at 18-under 198, last set by Tiger Woods in 2008.

As for that bold attempt to go for the green?

He had an 8-iron from the first cut of rough to play it safe until he saw Ryan Palmer comfortably reach the green. Rose went to the 3-wood, knowing it could come out heavy, and that’s what it did.

“There was a long way to go,” Rose said. “So I wasn’t really playing with the lead in mind at that point. If I was running 30th in the tournament, that was a shot I would probably hit. But yeah, it didn’t work out.”

Jon Rahm had a 68 and was four shots behind, followed by 22-year-old Doug Ghim, the former No. 1 amateur playing this week on a sponsor’s exemption. Ghim shot a 67.

Woods had the biggest gallery and didn’t make much noise. Woods birdied three of his last five holes to salvage a 71, leaving him 13 shots behind and in search of moral victories in his 2019 debut.

He was at 5-under 211.

“I think if I can get to double digits (under par), it would be just a nice way to end the week,” Woods said. “I’ve got to play a little better than I have.”

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., was the low Canadian, firing a 3-under 69 to enter a tie for 11th at 10 under. Mackenzie Hughes (70) of Dundas, Ont., was in the same group as Woods and finished the round tied for 36th at 6 under. Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford, B.C., and Ben Silverman (72) of Thornhill, Ont., were in a group tied for 48th at 5 under.

Scott was the only player to give Rose a serious run, and it didn’t feel like much.

Starting the day seven shots behind, Scott opened with an 8-foot birdie and then holed out from 103 yards for eagle on the next hole. He added four birdies in a five-hole stretch at the turn and delivered the low round of the tournament on the South course.

And he still wondered if it was enough.

“It’s almost all up to him tomorrow,” Scott about Rose, his neighbour in the Bahamas. “So that’s no pressure on me. But this is not a course I can go out and just fire at pins. It’s too easy to make big errors. I’ll just have to chip away and see if he can do the same.”

Rose made plenty of errors, though he atoned for them with plenty of exquisite shots.

After starting with two birdies through three holes, Rose pulled his shot from a fairway bunker on the fourth hole into the hazard well left of the green, and he missed a 10-foot putt to make double bogey. He answered with two birdies and an eagle on the par 5s, reaching all of them in two, and appeared to be sailing along until he pulled his shot out of a bunker on No. 14 into the hazard for a second double bogey, and then found the water on the final hole.

Scott said he would not be thinking about winning overnight, not with Rose the player he is chasing.

Rose is No. 1 in the world, with five victories in the last 14 months and a game that is not showing many weaknesses.

“He’s just playing too good,” Scott said. “He’s the No. 1 player in the world, he’s played well for over two years. He’s feeling it. He wants to take advantage of all of his good golf and that’s why he’s running away with this thing.”

Scott said the one positive about his position is only one player is front of him.

Rose has a 3-6 record when he has the lead going into the final round on the PGA Tour, and he knows now to take anything for granted, even the way he’s playing on a strong South course. Rose and Scott are longtime friends, while Rahm won at Torrey Pines two years ago and has an explosive game, opening this event with a 62.

“I expect Jon and Adam to come out and play well tomorrow, as well as the chasing pack,” Rose said. “But one of those guys is capable of something in the mid-60s. Obviously, if I go out and shoot 68, then that’s a great round of golf.But a 68 on the South course isn’t anyone’s to lose. You have to go out and get it. I think it’s going to take a good round of golf tomorrow to get this done.”

FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf and #1 Shoe on worldwide professional Tours, today launched the all-new FJ FURY. The athletic-infused styling, combined with the most feature-laden component package in its class, has resulted in a product that was designed, developed and engineered to deliver all-around comfort and performance.

FJ FURY is the latest addition to FJ’s performance lineup and is highlighted by a number of unique performance features, including an internal fit system that focuses on fit, comfort and support.

“With FJ FURY, we created a product that was designed from the inside-out,” said Richard Fryer, Director of Product Management, FJ Footwear. “As a result, FJ FURY’s TruFit System balances lightweight, responsive support with a new dynamic outsole that delivers comfort and stability throughout your round.”

Designed from the inside-out, FJ FURY features the proprietary TruFit System, providing stability where you need it and comfort where you want it. Inside the shoe is a soft, stretch, one-piece Inner Fit Sleeve lasted underneath the insole board to provide a secure fit with no tongue slippage, enveloping the foot in comfort and control. The external FlexGrid MLC cage system adds structure to the upper and locks you in as you lace up, offering medial and lateral support and motion control through your swing.

FJ FURY generates custom comfort with an OrthoLite Impressions FitBed, comprised of two densities of foam – an Open Cell PU Foam that maintains its mechanical properties and cushion throughout its life cycle, and an Impressions Foam that takes an impression of your foot, creating a custom fit.

The all-new D3 Outsole on FJ FURY ensures a solid, rigid platform for lateral in-swing stability and turf-grabbing traction, while the FTF+ (Fine Tuned Foam) infused midsole delivers incredible comfort and cushioning. The Liquid Metal-inspired Flex Layer of TPU and Dynamic Low Profile Pulsar Cleats deliver heel-to-toe walking flexibility and crouch flex when reading putts, providing the most flexible, green-friendly cleat on the market.

FJ FURY’s athletic-inspired upper features a full grain, waterproof leather upper, waterproof membrane and a vented toe for breathability, coated for protection.

FJ FURY is engineered and designed to provide the ultimate athletic performance. Tour players have already made the switch to incorporate FJ FURY in practice and in play at tournaments around the world.

“I put these into play immediately because they look and feel so athletic,” said Rafa Cabrera Bello. “I’m amazed that a shoe that is so comfortable can also offer so much stability.”

“I’m into my fitness so I love the athletic look,” said Brandon Stone. “I’m amazed with the breathability.”

For more information, visit www.FootJoy.ca

Experience all-around comfort and performance beginning 2/1/19. #FJFury pic.twitter.com/NgDWRqTT1Q

— FootJoy (@FootJoy) January 21, 2019

Canadian apparel brand Levelwear has announced the addition of Top 50 golfer in the World, Emiliano Grillo to their growing stable of PGA TOUR athletes. The multi-year agreement will see Grillo wear Levelwear’s premium collection of polos, pullovers, and pants while competing on the PGA TOUR alongside fellow ambassadors Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners and Ted Potter Jr.

“I saw other PGA TOUR players wearing the product and always thought it was very sharp,” said Grillo. “In the off season, I had the chance to review a number of opportunities and the Levelwear product stood out the most. The product fits me very well and is extremely comfortable to play in no matter the conditions. They have engineered a lot of performance features and styling into the product that I am really enjoying and that I know will assist in elevating my game this year. I am very excited to partner with Levelwear as we both look to achieve new heights in 2019 and beyond.”

This signing signifies the rapid assentation to the upper echelon of the golf apparel landscape for Levelwear. Along with newly formed relationships with the PGA TOUR, the PGA of America, Golf Canada and sponsorships of several top events on TOUR like the newly established Rocket Mortgage Classic, the RBC Canadian Open, among others, Levelwear will have a retail presence at roughly 23 PGA TOUR events this season including two Majors. Additionally Levelwear maintains strong retail relationships with roughly 75 of the top 100 golf clubs throughout North America and can be found at top clubs and resorts coast-to-coast.

“Emiliano is an athlete that we see aligning perfectly with the direction of the Levelwear brand,” added Levelwear President, Hilton Ngo. “He is young, athletic, wears the product beautifully and his world-class game and exciting personality makes him one of the most electrifying players to watch week in and week out. When we engaged his team about the potential partnership it was clear that he was the right guy for us and we couldn’t be more excited to have him as part of the team for years to come.”

Grillo, who was the 2016 Rookie of the Year on the PGA TOUR and who represented his home country of Argentina in the Olympics the same year, now enters his 4^th full season on the PGA TOUR. Coming off of a solid 2018 campaign that saw him earn 8 top-10 finishes in 27 events while only missing 2 cuts, he is poised to make the 2019 season his best yet. Already starting the year with runner up finishes at the CIMB Classic and QBE shootout with partner Graham McDowell, Grillo will be looking to add to his 3 professional win total in 2019. His premiere schedule will see him compete in the best events and against the best players every time he tees it up and as a top 50 Player in the Official World Golf Rankings, he has secured his invitation to the 2019 Masters. Grillo will debut the 2019 Levelwear collection at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Levelwear has established enduring business verticals in licensed and team sports, golf apparel, and men’s and women’s lifestyle wear, with core strengths of innovation, decoration, and industry leading service. The company holds licensing partnerships with some of the top global brands, including the NHL and NHLPA, NBA, CFL, AAF, 140 US Colleges, and various soccer properties (Bayern Munich, Paris St. Germain, Juventus, Celtics, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, etc.) globally. At the PGA Merchandising Show in Orlando later this month, Levelwear will unveiled its 2019 collection and their new Swiss fabric technology Smart Temp which is a dynamic cooling system of advanced moisture management triggered by body heat.

For more information, please visit www.levelwear.com.

Faster from core to cover, the new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls have been designed to leave the clubface with more ball speed and lower long game spin for more distance, while providing the best short game control to help golfers shoot lower scores.

The advancements of 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x, now available in golf shops worldwide, underscore the Titleist R&D and Operations teams’ relentless mission to continuously improve the best performing, most consistent golf balls in the game.

“When we set out to develop the 2019 models, we found that golfers at every level are extraordinarily satisfied with the performance of their Pro V1 or Pro V1x. At the same time, golfers keep telling us they would still like more distance – as long as they don’t have to give anything else up,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing. “Through the prototyping process, our chemists and engineers discovered a way to cast an even thinner urethane cover, and therefore increase the percentage of speed-enhancing materials in the overall construction. Pro V1 and Pro V1x are now even faster, as a result, all while maintaining the scoring performance and feel characteristics that golfers demand from these golf balls.”

2019 PRO V1 & PRO V1x TECHNOLOGY

Innovations in Titleist’s industry-leading multi-component technology and precision manufacturing process have combined to deliver the most advanced Pro V1 and Pro V1x models yet – available for the first time in both white and high optic yellow.

• 17% thinner cast Urethane Elastomer cover system delivers more ball speed. The advancement of Titleist’s thermoset urethane casting technology has allowed our engineers to cast a thinner layer of the proprietary cover formulation, developed exclusively for Pro V1 and Pro V1x, while retaining its trusted Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control and soft feel.
• Faster ionomeric casing layer increases ball speed and lowers long game spin. Beneath the thinner cover, the speed enhancing casing layer has thickened by 14% on Pro V1 and 11% on Pro V1x, creating higher ball speeds with lower driver and long game spin.
• New 2.0 ZG Process Cores are formulated for more distance. The outermost portions of the solid core Pro V1 and dual core Pro V1x have increased in stiffness while maintaining their soft centers, creating faster engines with higher ball speed and lower long game spin.

INTRODUCING PRO V1 AND PRO V1x YELLOW

The improved performance of 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x will also have a new preference option: High optic yellow. Following a tour seeding and validation period in early 2019, the new high visibility color option will be available in golf shops beginning March 15.

“As the demand for yellow Pro V1 and Pro V1x started to grow, our material scientists got to work on what we knew would be a significant R&D undertaking,” Mahoney said. “The performance and durability characteristics of our cast urethane are the best in the industry. It’s because we formulate and manufacture the cover ourselves that we are able to control the material with such precision and consistency. While it may seem pretty straightforward, recreating those properties in yellow required a new and complex chemistry with considerable iteration until we got it just right.”

CHOOSING BETWEEN PRO V1 AND PRO V1x

When it comes to choosing between the total performance of Pro V1 and Pro V1x, golfers will notice similar differences in flight, feel and spin as the prior generation models. Both Pro V1 and Pro V1x deliver increased ball speed and lower long game spin for maximum distance, consistent flight, Drop-and-Stop™ short game control and long-lasting durability. Pro V1 provides optimal flight and spin for most golfers, flying lower than Pro V1x with a penetrating trajectory, with very soft feel. Pro V1x flies higher, spins more on iron shots and has a slightly firmer feel.

PRECISION MANUFACTURING

The continued investment in advanced technology and quality control at Titleist Ball Plants 3 and 4 – where every Pro V1 and Pro V1x are manufactured by Titleist associates to the industry’s highest performance and quality specifications – ensures that every new generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the best performing and most consistent models ever. Consistency from ball to ball, and dozen to dozen, a founding principal of the Titleist golf ball business, is critical to allowing golfers to consistently execute the same types of shots, round after round.

PLAYER VALIDATION

The introduction of new Pro V1 and Pro V1x in November 2018 across the worldwide tours resulted in immediate validation and success. Playing new Pro V1 for the first time in competition, Charles Howell III won the RSM Classic in a sudden-death playoff for his first PGA Tour victory in 11 years. Howell, who made the switch from 2017 Pro V1x, shot a final-nine 31 that included birdies on three of his final four holes to make the playoff.

“The 2019 Pro V1 for me is a home run,” Howell said. “I’m getting all the ball speed I had with the prior generation Pro V1x and more. Plus, the new Pro V1 feels softer to me around the green, which I prefer. Ball speed off the driver is a pretty hard and fast measurable whereas touch and feel around the green is player dependent. I go through a fairly rigorous testing process when it comes to new equipment, but it did not take long for me to put this ball into play seeing it gives me the best of both worlds.”

New Pro V1 and Pro V1x players have combined for six victories across five tours since the tour seeding and validation process began, including a comeback victory by Cameron Smith (Pro V1x) at the Australian PGA Championship. Additionally, Patton Kizzire (Pro V1x) and Brian Harman (Pro V1) teamed up to win the two-man QBE Shootout playing 2019 models for the first time.

To date, more than 200 players worldwide have put new Pro V1 and Pro V1x in play – including Bubba Watson (Pro V1x), Tyrrell Hatton (Pro V1x), Jimmy Walker (Pro V1), Billy Horschel (Pro V1x), Matt Wallace (Pro V1), Charley Hoffman (Pro V1), Ian Poulter (Pro V1x), Russell Henley (Pro V1x), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Pro V1x), Lucas Bjerregaard (Pro V1), Byeong Hun An (Pro V1x), Joost Luiten (Pro V1), Jazz Janewattananond (Pro V1), Ross Fisher (Pro V1x), Danny Lee (Pro V1x) and Thongchai Jaidee (Pro V1x) – as the tour seeding and validation process continues around the world.

The new 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls will be available in golf shops beginning Jan. 23, 2019, with the high optic yellow models available March 15 for $64.99 CAD.

Click here to learn more.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. – Scotty Cameron has created his most technically advanced putter line to date with the 2019 Phantom X family – a collection of nine new modern mallets engineered to take putting performance to the next level.

The Phantom X line presents players with a variety of new mallet setups built around a cohesive mix of five head styles, with multiple shaft bend and alignment options. To maximize MOI, each Phantom X model incorporates multi-material construction featuring precision milled solid aluminum faces integrated with 303 stainless steel heads with enhanced vibration dampening technology.

Available in golf shops worldwide beginning April 5, Phantom X replaces the Futura family while advancing Titleist Master Putter Maker Scotty Cameron’s proven multi-material construction methodology of combining 303 stainless steel and 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum for increased MOI, optimal weight distribution, improved sound and responsive feedback.

“Phantom X is by far the most high tech putter line we’ve designed to date,” said Cameron. “This product is so much faster looking, and taken to the next level, that it needed a new name. It’s a major leap in performance. We’ve designed a variety of flange setups, alignment options and shaft bends to offer mallet players more models to choose from. I was inspired by Tour players who’ve asked for slightly smaller profiles with more alignment options and solid face construction. The engineering has been ramped up to an entirely new level to bring this brand new line to life. Phantom X is the ultimate lineup for mallet players.”

2019 PHANTOM X TECHNOLOGY
The Phantom X line comprises nine modern mallets based on five new, refined and streamlined head shapes – featuring low-bend, mid-bend and straight shaft setups, in addition to a variety of flange orientations and improved alignment cues:

• FIVE NEW HIGH-TECH, MULTI-MATERIAL HEADS: Each Phantom X putter is a precision milled, multi-component mallet based on one of five new head designs. These models are slightly more compact than their Futura predecessors with sleek, ground-hugging contours that pleasingly angle away from the player to inspire confidence at address, yet still employ aluminum and steel components perfectly matched for optimal shape and weight distribution.

• TOUR PREFERRED ALIGNMENT: A variety of tour-preferred setups offer multiple alignment options, including: continuous lines from the leading edge all the way back; simple sight dots; raised or stepped down flanges; and wider or “vanishing” toplines. Alignment features have been accentuated with longer, racing-inspired lines and triple milled sight dots highlighted in neon yellow paint to frame the golf ball at address.

• MULTIPLE SHAFT BEND OPTIONS: With three shaft options – low-bend, mid-bend and straight – offered across the Phantom X line, players have more choices with regard to their preferred amount of toe flow. Phantom X models with “.5” in the name (i.e., 5.5, 7.5 and 8.5) have a shorter, low-bend shaft configuration with one shaft of offset for more toe flow to promote an arc in the putting stroke. The Phantom X 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 models have a slightly taller, mid-bend shaft for a near-face balanced setup that produces less toe flow than the .5 models. The Phantom X 6STR has a straight shaft with zero offset.

• SOLID FACE TECHNOLOGY: Each Phantom X mallet is constructed with a standard-milled, 6061 aircraft aluminum face anodized black that extends back and through the flange areas of each model. This results in solid feedback, while preserving the soft feel players prefer.

• NEW CUSTOM DESIGNED GRIP: The Phantom X line marks the debut of the new Pistolero Plus grip in cement gray with gloss black paintfill. The Pistolero Plus is a modified Pistolero grip with a thicker, less tapered right (low) hand that combines the tour-preferred performance and feel of a rubber Pistolero-style grip with a slightly built-up feel perfectly suited to mallet putters.

2019 PHANTOM X MODELS
The nine new Phantom X models deliver key performance benefits in design, construction, alignment and shaft bend options:

• Phantom X 5: The evolution of this Tour-proven wingback mallet with a single mid-bend shaft continues with a solid aluminum face anodized in black that extends back into the stepped down flange, framed by misted stainless steel. Three milled topline sight dots painted neon yellow and framed with polished aluminum provide simple but effective alignment to the sweet spot.

• Phantom X 5.5: Identical in shape to the Phantom X 5, the 5.5 has a lower shaft bend that provides enhanced toe flow for players seeking stability while still creating an arc in the stroke. This bend was inspired by Justin Thomas’ Tour prototype setup and combines some of the feel of a blade putter with the forgiveness benefits of a mallet.

• Phantom X 6: A face balanced mallet with a single mid-bend shaft provides distinct alignment cues, with two long neon yellow sight lines milled into the stepped down flange, framing three milled sight dots on the misted black anodized topline. Customizable sole weights increase MOI and stability through the stroke.

• Phantom X 6STR: Constructed without a spud and with zero offset, the straight shafted 6STR produces face balanced performance with a clean and minimalist look at address. The topline sight dots of the Phantom X 6STR are painted neon yellow for easy alignment in conjunction with the extended neon yellow sight lines in the stepped down flange.

• Phantom X 7: A single mid-bend-shafted, near-face balanced setup, Phantom X 7 features a heel-to-toe tapered aluminum face that is sculpted into a raised center flange for a continuous, connected surface from the leading edge all the way back. Framed by stepped down, angular stainless steel components, the Phantom X7 combines the benefits of long flange sight lines with a semi-traditional topline for easy horizontal and vertical alignment at setup. Also available in a left-handed model.

• Phantom X 7.5: With a single low-bend shaft crafted to promote enhanced toe flow with forgiveness, the Phantom X 7.5 employs a raised center flange offering a continuous, connected surface accented with neon yellow alignment cues from the leading edge through the back flange. Also available in a left-handed model.

• Phantom X 8: Inspired by touring professionals seeking a putter with simple visual cues and a continuous transition from leading edge through the back flange, the Phantom X 8 is a sleek, near-face balanced mallet with a single mid-bend shaft. Milled sight dots and neon yellow sight lines perfectly frame the golf ball for seamless alignment without distractions.

• Phantom X 8.5: Differing from the Phantom X 8 only in shaft bend length and increased toe hang, the Phantom X 8.5 offers players an unbroken, sculpted flange from the putter’s leading edge through the back flange with a single low-bend shaft to promote a slightly arced putting stroke. Alignment is easy with bright visual cues.

• Phantom X 12: With swept-back wings precision milled from 303 stainless steel, this near-face balanced, high-MOI mallet with a single mid-bend shaft employs the continuous alignment features of the Phantom X line’s full leading-edge-to-flange construction – crafted from aircraft grade aluminum, anodized black and accented with neon yellow sight cues. The ultimate in technology, stability and forgiveness.

PHANTOM X WEIGHTING & SHAFTS
Each new Phantom X putter features advanced stability weighting with two, customizable stainless steel heel-toe weights and stepless steel shafts.

FINISH & GRAPHICS
The Phantom X line’s 6061 aircraft grade aluminum components have been anodized black in a misted finish that helps to reduce sun glare. The 303 stainless steel putter head components have also been misted for a radiant yet glare resistant appearance. Scotty’s familiar three-dot theme carries through to the back cavities of the Phantom X 5, 5.5, 6 and 6STR as unpainted, raw circles revealed by milling away the black anodization. Neon yellow paintfill provides bold visual guidance in sight lines, while sight dots have been double-milled to highlight the neon yellow paintfill with a ring of silver-colored aluminum.

AVAILABILITY
Phantom X putters will be available worldwide on April 12, 2019, through Titleist authorized golf shops starting at $579.99 CAD.