The first World Golf Championship event of the new PGA Tour season is underway in Shanghai, China this week as an elite international field of 78 players compete at the WGC - HSBC Champions.
Shenshan International Golf Club plays host again and the players are already shooting some low scores on the par-72, 7,266-yard layout. One player who seems to have found the secret to playing well under challenging course conditions through the first two rounds is Titleist Brand Ambassador Bill Haas (Pro V1x), who currently sits in a tie for 2nd, three shots off the tournament lead.
"This course is playing about as long as it could ever play," said Haas, who fought through cool, misty conditions to fire a 5-under 67 in the opening round. He followed up with a matching 67 on Friday, despite heavy winds.
"You have to really be conscious of the wind [here]," said Haas. "It was gusty at times. The holes into the wind played very tough today. You just have to focus on hitting a solid shot, and if it the wind affects it, it affects it. You just have to play for it."
Haas added that the damp weather at Shenshan did have one decidedly positive effect on his fast start and may also bode well for the veteran this weekend.
"The one thing that's letting us shoot some good scores is the greens are soft," said Haas. "It seemed like when I needed to recover from a fairway bunker or out of the rough I was able to do that. If you have a decent lie, if you fly it on the green, it's probably going to stop on the green. It's an outstanding field [and] we have a long way to go, but hopefully I'll be in the mix."
Best of luck down the home stretch, Bill and good luck to all of #TeamTitleist this weekend in Shanghai!
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Let's take a look at the Titleist equipment that Bill Haas will be trusting this weekend.
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: 917D2 (9.5°)
Fairways: 917F2 (13.5°), 915F (18°)
Irons: 716 AP2B (3-PW)
Wedges: Vokey Design SM6 sand (54°) and lob (60°)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Concept 2 prototype
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TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS
A total of 48 players in the 78-player field are trusting a Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for their success at this week's WGC-HSBC Champions, more than four times the nearest competitor with 11 and more than all competitors combined.
Titleist is also the top choice in hybrids (10) and iron sets (20.) Vokey Design Wedges are also tops in the approach, sand and lob wedge (73) category and Scotty Cameron putter are the field favorite in putters (T1-29).
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This week the PGA Tour is also staging its first opposite field event of the 2016-17 season, as Titleist Brand Ambassador Peter Malnati (Pro V1) looks to defend his title (the first PGA Tour crown of his career) at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Let's take a look at the Titleist equipment that Peter will be trusting this weekend in Mississippi, at the Country Club of Jackson.
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: 917D2 (8.5°)
Fairway: 915F (13.5°)
Hybrids: 816H2 (19°, 23°)
Irons: 716 T-MB (5-PW)
Wedges: Vokey Design SM6 gap (50°), sand (56°) and lob (60°)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport Fastback
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TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS
A total of 94 players are trusting a Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for their success at the Sanderson Farms Championship, more than five times the nearest competitor with 17 and more than all competitors combined.
Titleist is also the top choice among players in hybrids (27) and iron sets (41.) Vokey Design Wedges are the overwhelming choice in the approach, sand and lob wedge (179) category and Scotty Cameron putter are the field favorite in putters (62).
#TeamTitleist