Titleist golf ball loyalist Gene Sauers (Pro V1) earned his first PGA Tour Champions title in grand fashion on Monday, capturing the rain-delayed U.S. Senior Open Championship by one shot at Scioto Country Club.
The win caps an amazing comeback by Sauers, who battled Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare disease of the skin and mucous membranes that kept the Georgia native out of golf for more than seven years.
“It's been a long time, and I'm at a loss for words right now,” said Sauers after the victory. “I told my wife, when I was in the hospital, I didn't think I was ever coming out. She kept me strong. I'm just honored to be here.“
Course conditions changed dramatically throughout the championship, as the weather at Scioto shifted from oppressive heat and fair winds on Thursday to gusts and heavy rains late Saturday. The downpours postponed Sunday's final round to Monday and delayed Monday’s round for four hours.
In the final round, Sauers holed a 5-foot putt for par at the last to shoot one-under-par 69. His 3-under-par 277 total was a shot clear of two players including Titleist golf ball loyalist Billy Mayfair (Pro V1x).
Sauers, whose last victory came at the PGA TOUR’s Air Canada Championship in 2002, was one of only four players to finish the 72-hole event under par, the fewest in the U.S. Senior Open since three players did so in 2008 at The Broadmoor.
With his major win, the 53-year-old earns a five-year exemption to the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai as well as a spot in the 2017 U.S. Open filed at Erin Hills.
“It's just unbelievable,” said Sauers. “To not play golf, not touch a golf club for seven years and to come out and to win a Major golf tournament on a hard golf course. Being back with all my friends who I started in 1984 playing golf with, it's just a pleasure, and I'm so humbled to be here and honored. I can't put it into words yet. I'm speechless.”
Congratulations and welcome back, Gene!
TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS
Titleist was the most relied upon golf ball at the U.S. Senior Open with 97 players in the field trusting a Pro V1 or Pro V1x, more than three times the nearest competitor with 27.
Titleist Vokey Design Wedges were also the field favorite in the approach, sand and lob wedge (121) category.
The win was the 15th for Titleist golf ball players through the first 17 events on the PGA Tour Champions schedule this season.
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