FAIRHAVEN, Mass. -- Titleist Brand Ambassador Robert Karlsson, trusting the Pro V1x golf ball and Titleist equipment from tee-to-green, posted a three-shot victory at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. It marked the 10th career European Tour title for Karlsson, who entered the final round two shots back. Karlsson closed with a bogey-free, seven-under 65 that included birdies on the last two holes to finish at 15-under 273.

Perseverance paid off for Karlsson, who was sidelined for four months last year while suffering from blurred vision caused by fluid behind the retina in his left eye. He had won his first Order of Merit as the leading money winner on the European Tour in 2008. The win vaults Karlsson to No. 17 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

What's in Robert Karlsson's Bag?: Titleist Pro V1x, 909D2 driver (9.5), 909F3 fairway metals (13, 18), New MB irons (3-P), Vokey Design Spin Milled pitching (50), sand (56) and lob (60) wedges, Scotty Cameron GSS putter.

Karlsson topped Lee Westwood (Pro V1x), last year's Race to Dubai winner and No. 4 in the Official World Rankings, and Titleist Brand Ambassador Brett Rumford (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, New AP2 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled pitching, sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Kombi putter). The pair tied for third place, four shots behind Karlsson.

Titleist was the top golf ball choice among players at the event with 63, more than all other golf balls combined.

PGA TOUR: Ben Crane made it four in a row for Titleist golf ball loyalists to start the 2010 PGA TOUR season when he rolled in a three-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to capture the Farmers Insurance Open. Crane closed with a final round two-under 70 for a 13-under 275 total. In addition to trusting the Pro V1x golf ball for his success, the champion also relied upon a Titleist 909D2 driver (10.5), 909H hybrid (21), AP2 irons (5-P) and Vokey Design Spin Milled gap (51), sand (55) and lob (59) wedges. The win is the third PGA TOUR crown for Crane and his first since the 2005 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. He captured his first title at the 2003 BellSouth Classic.

Titleist Brand Ambassadors Marc Leishman (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, New AP2 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 SLT T-10 putter) and Michael Sim (Pro V1x, 905R driver, 909F2 fairway metal, 503i 2-iron, AP2 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport Square putter) were among three players who finished one shot back. Leishman, the 2009 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, fired a final round four-under 68, while Sim, last year's Nationwide Tour Player of the Year, played in the final group with Crane and fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Ryuji Imada (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 906F2 fairway metal, 909H hybrids, New CB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron 350 putter). Imada tied for 9th.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Rickie Fowler (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, New MB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) closed with a two-under 70 for a share of 5th place with three other players, including Michael Allen (Pro V1x) and Alex Prugh (Pro V1). All four finished at 11-under 277. Defending champion and Titleist Brand Ambassador Nick Watney (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F2 fairway metal, 909H hybrid, New AP2 irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled sand and lob wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport Tour 350 putter) shot a 4-under 68 to grab a share of ninth place along with five other players.

SURVEY SAYS: According to the Darrell Survey, Titleist was the overwhelming GOLF BALL of choice at the event with 100 players, more than five times the nearest competitor with 18. Titleist was also first in IRON SETS (43); SAND, LOB and APPROACH WEDGES (124); and PUTTERS (60). Titleist was second in the DRIVER category with 36 players and FAIRWAYS with 30 players.

STATS: Crane led the field in Greens in Regulation, hitting 87.5%, while Leishman was 4th (79.2). Both players rely on the 909D2 driver and AP2 irons for their tee-to-green success. Crane tied for 8th in Driving Accuracy (67.9).

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Making his first start as a Nationwide Tour member, Florida native and Titleist Brand Ambassador Robert Gates, Jr. (Pro V1x, 909D3 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, New MB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport Fastback putter) sealed a one-shot victory in the Michael Hill New Zealand Open over fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador, Australian Andrew Dodt (Pro V1x, 909D2 driver, 909F3 fairway metal, New CB irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport putter).

Gates, who finished with a 14-under 274 total, became the 13th player to win in his Nationwide debut. The win makes him fully exempt on the Nationwide Tour through 2011 and the PGA Tour of Australasia through 2012.

NATIONWIDE SURVEY: It was a clean sweep of the major equipment categories at the New Zealand Open. Titleist was the overwhelming golf ball of choice with 105 players (64%), more than five times the nearest competitor with 19. Titleist was also first in drivers (54), irons (68), sand, lob and approach wedges (177) and putters (49).

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Contact: Joe Gomes, Director of Communications (508.979.3211)