The arrival of October is a bittersweet time for golf fans. While those of us who call the United States home are still riding high after a thrilling Ryder Cup, the changing of the seasons also signifies then end of the golf season. Beginning back in mid-October of 2015, this season saw plenty of drama, excitement and of course, lost golf balls. Here at LostGolfBalls.com we love seeing which ball manufacturers have the most success, which is why today we look at which models turned up most often in the winner’s circle this year.
Photo cred: http://www.cbsnews.com/
Titleist: 22 wins (Pro V1: 7 wins, Pro V1x: 15 wins)
Once again, Titleist claimed the title of most successful ball manufacturer with 22 wins this season. This comes as no surprise for a brand that counts Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson as devotees. The Pro V1x claimed the most wins of any model on Tour with 15, with the most prominent victory coming at The PGA Championship courtesy of Jimmy Walker. Not to be outdone, the Pro V1 got in on the fun when Henrik Stenson relied on its three-piece construction to claim his first Major title at The Open Championship.
Photo cred: http://thegolfnewsnet.com/
TaylorMade: 9 wins (Tour Preferred X: 9 wins)
After a slow start to the season, TaylorMade really got going In March, when Jason Day took advantage of the excellent distance generated by the Tour Preferred X’s five layers to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World Golf Championships – Dell Match Play in back-to-back weeks before adding THE PLAYERS Championship two months later. Dustin Johnson also saw great success with the Tour Preferred X, adding the Bridgestone Invitational, BMW Championship and U.S. Open to his ever-growing stable of Tour wins. JD and DJ were able to lead TaylorMade to the second-most wins of any manufacturer.
Photo cred: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/
Srixon: 6 wins (Z-Star: 3 wins, Z-Star XV: 3 wins)
What may come as a surprise to many, Srixon finished the season with the third most Tour wins. Lead by Russell Knox’s two victories at the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions and Travelers Championship, Srixon’s softer Z-Star was also the choice of William McGirt as he claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. The firmer Z-Star XV was the choice of Smylie Kaufman, Graeme McDowell and Hideki Matsuyama during each of their wins this season.
Callaway: 5 wins (Chrome Soft: 3 wins, SR3: 2 wins)
Boasting a strong stable of golfers, Callaway was able to secure five wins on Tour this season. Leading the way for the Chrome Soft was Ryder Cup Hero Patrick Reed, claiming the title at The Barclays late in the year as well as four points in the Ryder Cup. Danny Willett carried the torch for the SR3 giving Callaway their only Major of the season with a win at Augusta. Brendan Grace used the superior spin provided by the SR3’s five layers to grab the win at the RBC Heritage one week later.
Nike: 4 wins (RZN Platinum: 3 wins, RZN Black: 1 win)
In what very well may be the last year Nike golf balls are played on Tour, the Swoosh was able to rack up four wins. Leading the charge was Northern Irishman and Patrick Reed nemesis Rory Mcllroy who won both the Deutsche Bank Championship and Tour Championship using the RZN Platinum. These two victories ultimately earned him the first FedExCup championship of his career. A fitting farewell for Nike golf balls.
Photo cred: http://archive.golfweek.com/
Bridgestone: 2 wins (B330: 1 win, B330-S: 1 win)
Finally we get to Bridgestone, who was able to secure two titles this season. The first came from Brandt Snedeker when he relied on the B330 to claim the Farmers Insurance Open title. The B330-S helped Naval Lieutenant turned PGA Pro Billy Hurley III grab the first win of his career at the Quicken Loans National.
How did your favorite ball fare on Tour this season? Let us know in the comment section below and as always, check out the selection on LostGolfBalls.com to fill all of your golf ball needs.
