The next generation of Titleist’s Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls made their debut on the PGA Tour at last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship.
Titleist’s tour validation process for the next generation of the balls had been scheduled to begin at this week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. However, that date was brought forward a week in response to demands from tour players who had been involved in the pre-launch testing process.
Garrick Higgo, MJ Daffue and Gary Woodland, who had been part of the trialling team, all asked to be able to put the new balls in play ahead of schedule, with the balls arriving on Tuesday morning ahead of Thursday’s first round.
Four holes into his first round, Daffue’s aced the 182-yard par-3 4th with a new Pro V1x, while Higgo led the field in birdies (24) with the latest version of the Pro V1, closing with a four-under-par 68 on Sunday to finish in third place.
Over the next three practice days in Las Vegas, Titleist golf ball R&D representatives Fordie Pitts and Jeff Beyers will be working with tour players as they continue to test the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x models on the range and in play.
The process will continue over the coming weeks and months with professionals and elite amateurs around the world, alongside members of Team Titleist. The new Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls are expected to go on sale early next year.