Alfred Dunhill Championship
After barely a moment to catch our breath following a stunning climax to the 2009 season the Race is on again as the 2010 season kicks off in South Africa at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. And what a place for the 2010 Race to Dubai to begin!!!
Located on the edge of Kruger National Park, the magnificent par-72 layout at Leopard Creek Golf Club offers up one of the most spectacular settings on the European Tour schedule. The course is literally built on the banks of the park’s “Crocodile River” which, as the name suggests, is home to some of South Africa’s most infamous residents!! But the crocs are certainly not the most famous inhabitant of Leopard Creek Golf Club; that title would have to go to a certain hippopotamus that resides in a lake on the 16th hole and has become something of a celebrity. Our Tour team were suitably intrigued and took time out to see Harry the hippo during some down time this week. Check out the picture of Harry in this week’s slideshow.
Click here to view the slideshow
But of course, our main concern this week in South Africa is the inhabitants of the golf course!! Some of the European Tour’s best are in the field and looking to get off to a flyer on the 2010 Race to Dubai. A number of Titleist Ambassadors are in the field this week including Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, a recent winner at the UBS Hong Kong Open, and Irishman Shane Lowry who is embarking on his first full season of European Tour play. Who can forget Shane’s sensational victory at the 3 Irish Open back in May whilst still an amateur; a win which secured his playing European Tour playing privileges for 2010. Shane has been slowly adjusting to life on Tour since turning pro shortly after his win and is clearly revved up for his first full season. At the time of writing Shane is off to a solid start currently lying in a tie for 14th place at five under par. The whole Titleist team would like to wish Shane all the very best for what is undoubtedly the biggest year of his golfing career to date.
With many of our Titleist Ambassadors not playing this week there was very little equipment activity to speak of at Leopard Creek. However, with a new season now upon us we are fully expecting business to pick up over the coming weeks. One thing’s for sure, the popularity of Titleist equipment on the European Tour continues to grow. As well as being the #1 ball on the European Tour with 65.1%* of players using Pro V1 and Pro V1x across the 2009 season, Titleist is also the most played iron brand with 22.7%* of European Tour players trusting the performance and quality of Titleist irons during the 2009 season. A Titleist iron was also in the bags of more European Tour winners than any other brand during the 2009 with 12* victories. With a new range of Titleist irons now on offer, a number of players have already transitioned into the new AP2, CB or MB irons and we fully expect more to follow suit as the new season gets underway.
One player who did touch base with the team to place an equipment order this week was Titleist Ambassador Michael Hoey. Regular readers of the Blog may remember Michael taking a shine to a 909F2 fairway metal being tested by fellow Titleist player Rory McIlroy in Hong Kong and, since receiving his own 13.5° version to this specification, Michael has been delighted with the performance. The specification has been so much to his liking that Michael has now asked the team to put together a 15.5° version to the same specification. The club will be built at our European Tour workshop back in England and shipped to him at the earliest opportunity.
Michael Hoey
Model: 909F2
Loft: 15.5°
Shaft: Project X 7A3 X-Stiff
Length: 43”
Grip: Golf Pride DD2 .600 Round Black/Yellow (Std).
Swingweight: D3
The Titleist Tour Team will remain in South Africa next week as the Tour moves further south to Cape Town for the South African Open Championship at Pearl Valley Golf Estates. Set in the shadows of the Drakenstein Mountains the course offers up one of the most challenging layouts in all of Africa and undoubtedly one of the most visually spectacular golfing locations on the planet. It promises to be a great week and we will of course bring you another Blog update from the event.
* Source: IFM Sports Marketing Surveys – November 2009
Add comment December 11th, 2009
