Summer is finally here and golf is heating up on both the European and PGA Tours. With the U.S. Open less than two weeks away the players are gearing up and fine tuning their games. Check out the action from both Tours this weekend and the Titleist gear that helped two champions claim titles in Sweden and Ohio.
First-time victory is definitely sweet, just ask 20-year-old Renato Paratore. The young Italian picked up his maiden European Tour win yesterday at the Nordea Masters, beating Chris Wood and Matt Fitzpatrick by 1-stroke. His impressive victory makes Paratore the youngest winner on Tour since fellow Italian, Matteo Manassero won the BMW PGA Championship in 2013.
“This win means a lot and also to win at a nice tournament like this is very good for me. I feel really great. The first win, I will remember my entire life,” Paratore told reporters afterwards.
Adding, “It feels amazing to be in the winner’s circle with Italians like the Molinaris, Manassero and Rocca.”
The Titleist player is already known on Tour for his extremely fast-paced play. He thrived at GolfSixes in early May and is encouraging more players, professionals and amateurs alike, to speed it up. Telling SkySports last month,
“Playing fast is good for the mind, the more time you take, the more doubts can get into your mind over a shot and you can second-guess yourself sometimes. I just like to make my mind up and go ahead.”
Check out the Titleist gear Paratore used to secure his first professional title:
Driver:
Titleist 915D3 Driver
Fairway Wood:
Titleist 917F2 Fairway Wood
Hybrid:
Titleist 816H2 Hybrid
Irons:
Titleist 716 T-MB Utility Iron;
Titleist AP2 716 Irons
Wedges:
Titleist Spin Milled SM6 Wedges
Ball:
Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls
Bag:
Titleist Tour Staff Golf Bag
Over on the PGA Tour Jason Dufner secured his fifth career victory at the Memorial Tournament in his home state of Ohio. Despite carding a shocking 5-over 77 during the third round, the American was able to claw his way back to the top of the leaderboard on Sunday. Finishing the tournament with a final 13-under 275.
“Yesterday [Saturday] was not my best day,” Dufner told reporters regarding his third round at Muirfield. “But I had to get over it quick. It’s a 72-hole tournament, there’s a lot of things that can happen out there. I knew I was still in the mix.”
And get over it he did, holding his nerve to play an incredible fourth round that earned the 40-year-old over $1.5 million and a three-stroke victory over fellow American Rickie Fowler and Anirban Lahiri. Dufner now joins tournament host Jack Nicklaus as the only Ohio-born golfers to win the Memorial.
Dufner’s victory also featured an arsenal of Titleist equipment. See a selection of what he used below:
Driver:
Titleist 917D2 Driver
Fairway Woods:
Titleist 915F Fairway Wood
Irons:
Titleist AP2 716 Irons
Wedges:
Titleist Vokey Design SM6 Wedges
Putter:
Scotty Cameron Futura 5S Putter
Ball:
Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls
