Storm returns to form with New Prototype Pro V1x in South Africa

It was an all-New Titleist Prototype Pro V1x sudden death playoff at the BMW SA Open, where Titleist golf ball loyalist Graeme Storm parred the third extra hole to earn his second career European Tour title.

Both players, each trusting the New Titleist Prototype Pro V1x golf ball for the first time in competition, finished at 18-under-par 270, one shot clear of fellow Titleist golf ball loyalist Jordan Smith (Pro V1).

Storm, age 38, who won the Open de France ALSTOM in 2007 relying upon the Pro V1x, switched golf ball brands following the 2008 season and did not win again until playing a Titleist golf ball once again this week.

The Englishman made the most of his return to Titleist, outlasting World No. 2 at the Glendower Golf Club in Gauteng, South Africa.

Storm had entered the final day with a three-shot lead and closed with a 71, while the runner-up, who returned to the Titleist golf ball for the first time since 2012, fired a final round 68 to set up the dramatic finale.

It was the first time the pair had played a competitive round together. Ironically, Smith, who finished solo 3rd, was also playing his first event since returning to the Titleist golf ball after more than three years and posted his best career finish.

Storm topped a leaderboard that included nine Titleist golf ball loyalists among the 12 players who finished in the Top 10 and ties.

In addition to the top three sweep, Titleist golf ball loyalists Thomas Aiken (Pro V1) and Trevor Fisher Jr. (New Prototype Pro V1x) tied for 5th, while Alexander Bjork (New Prototype Pro V1), David Drysdale (Pro V1x), Mikko Korhonen (Pro V1x) and Titleist brand ambassador Peter Uihlein (New Prototype Pro V1x) tied for 7th.

FROM THE CHAMPION:

“This is a dream come true, especially after what happened to me last year with my card and everything,” Storm said. (He lost his European Tour playing privileges by just 100 euros in October and only had them reinstated when another player did not fulfill the quota of required events to retain membership.)

“It really means everything to me to be in the winner’s circle again. It’s been an absolute roller coaster over the last year and a half – especially the end of last year. There was pressure today but not the same pressure as trying to keep your European Tour card. That’s real pressure and something I don’t want to feel for a long time.”

Congratulations, Graeme!

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TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS

 At the first full-field event of the 2017 calendar year, Titleist was the overwhelming favorite in golf balls At the first European Tour event of the 2017 calendar year, Titleist was the overwhelming field favorite in golf balls with 112 players relying upon a Pro V1 or Pro V1x, more than five times the nearest competitor with 21.

The win was the second for a Titleist player through the first four events of the European Tour’s wraparound 2016-17 season.

Storm follows Titleist golf ball loyalist Brandon Stone (New Prototype Pro V1) into the winners’ circle after Stone became the first player ever to win with the New Prototype Pro V1 golf ball when he captured the season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship, also in South Africa.

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