Titleist Brand Ambassador Michael Kim turned in a flawless Sunday in France, making birdies on two of his final three holes to finish off a bogey-free 6-under 65 and one-shot victory. 

Kim – playing a Pro V1x golf ball and Titleist setup that includes his GT2 driver, NEW T250 4-iron, T100 irons and Vokey Design SM10 wedges – averaged +2.26 Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green over the four days at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, while leading the field in par-4 scoring at 3.77. 

WITB | Michael Kim 

Titleist Pro V1x golf ball 

GT2 11.0 driver | Graphite Design Tour AD DI-6 X 

NEW T250 4-iron | Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S 

T100 5-P irons | Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S 

Vokey Design SM10 52.12F, 56.14F, WedgeWorks 60L | True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 

Highlighted by Kim’s first DPWT title, the top three finishers at the Open de France each gamed a Pro V1x golf ball, GT driver, T100 irons and Vokey SM10 wedges -- as Titleist Brand Ambassadors Elvis Smylie and Jeong weon Ko finished tied in the runner-up position.  

• WITB | Elvis Smylie: Titleist Pro V1x+ prototype golf ball; GT3 10.0 driver; GT1 14.5 & GT2 21.0 fairways; NEW T100 4-9 irons; Vokey Design SM10 46.10F, 50.12F, 56.10S, 60.04T wedges; Scotty Cameron Phantom 11 tour prototype putter. 

• WITB | Jeong weon Ko: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball; GT3 10.0 driver; GT2 15.0 fairway; GT2 18.0 hybrid; NEW T100 4-P irons; Vokey Design 50.12F, 54.10S, WedgeWorks 58L wedges. 

In total, an overwhelming 119 (76%) players teed up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model this week, more than six times the nearest competitor with 15 (9.6%). 

Titleist was also the most played driver (69 players/44.2%), iron (57/36.5%) and wedge (306 sand, gap and lob wedges/51%). 

– “The Titleist golf ball is, I think it’s just widely regarded as the number one ball in golf. You see it with how many players play the golf ball on TOUR, whether they’re partners or not. I started playing them in junior golf (as a 9-year-old in 2002), and I’ve never really looked back. I've always played the Titleist golf ball, just a combination of speed, spin, consistency, it's all there and it's really the only brand that I've played my entire career.”  

– "Pro V1x just gives me a ton of confidence. The golf ball is super consistent. I've played the Pro V1x for a number of years now, so I know what I'm going to get out of it and [it's] just the perfect blend of speed and spin for me.” 

– “For me, it's not about one shot. I need to be able to hit the high draw with the correct amount of spin. But also around the greens, I need to be able to hit the low-spinner check. There's not many golf balls that can provide both. And the Pro V1x provides that perfect power with the driver and the spin with the wedges.”  

– “We spend hours and hours each day and week to make sure we can perform and do what we want with the golf ball or try to get it as close as we can to the golf ball. And if the golf ball doesn't do what we think -- we made the right move, but the golf ball doesn't perform that way -- it's really hard to play high level golf that way. But with the Pro V1x that I play, I know the golf ball will do its job. I'm never going to see any weird spins or launch angles. If I hit the shot that I want, I know it's going to do what I want and that's a lot of trust and really important for us players.” 

With his Titleist GT2 11-degree driver in the bag, champion Michael Kim led a 1-2-3-4 finish for players gaming GT drivers at the Open de France. 

The other three competitors each played GT3 10.0 models. That list included runners-up Elvis Smylie and Jeong weon Ko, as well as the 2023 PGA Championship winner, who finished solo fourth. The five-time major champion switched to his GT3 from a competitor’s model at this year’s Masters Tournament. 

Kim made the move to his GT2 from his prior generation TSR3. 

 “I have the GT2. I’ve been using this since last fall, and it’s been great so far,” Kim said. “I’ve actually shortened it a smidge about half an inch, so it's 44 1/2 as opposed to the 45 that I played before. But because the driver is so fast I actually haven't lost any ball speed with it. 

Kim added recently on his X account: “Some questions about why I play a 11 degree driver. As a drawer, I don’t spin the ball as much as some of the other guys on tour. I need the loft to get the 2500ish spin on the driver. Also I like seeing some loft on my driver as I have a tendency to hang back to try and help the ball up if I don’t see the loft which isn’t good for my swing as I already hang back some. I used to play a 9.5 for a very long time but as technology has changed to lower spinning drivers for high launch low spin, I’ve gone progressively up on my driver loft.” 

Titleist continues to be the most played driver on both the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, with 44% of players (69) gaming a Titleist driver this week in France. 

One of the newest additions to Kim’s bag is his NEW T250 4-iron, which he first tested on the range in Memphis at the PGA TOUR’s FedEx St. Jude Championship. According to Titleist’s Senior Director of Club Promotions JJ Van Wezenbeeck, Kim is always looking for easy launch and forgiveness at the top end of his bag. When T250 checked both boxes, he put the new model in play immediately.  

NEW T250 irons, which first launched on tour in May, are Titleist’s newest generation player’s distance irons, featuring a hollow body construction as well as a larger profile compared to the more compact T100 and T150 irons. T250 irons are designed to deliver fast and consistent ball speeds, high launch and exceptional forgiveness, making them a popular option on tour in both standard long iron builds like Kim’s and utility configurations.  

Also in the bag for Michael Kim’s maiden DP World Tour victory were three Vokey Design SM10 wedges: 52.12F, 56.14F, WedgeWorks 60L. According to Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill, Kim’s wedge setup is designed around high-bounce options in his F Grind gap and sand wedge, which give him plenty of forgiveness out of the fairway on fuller shots. His 60-degree L Grind lob wedge prioritizes greenside versatility, with the thinner sole and lower bounce design matching up best to Kim’s delivery and allowing him to hit low-launch, high-spin shots on command.  

This week in France, Kim ranked 3rd in Scrambling, getting up and down 12 of 16 attempts (75%). He gained +2.04 shots around the greens. 

Titleist Brand Ambassador John VanDerLaan broke through for his first career Korn Ferry Tour win, putting himself in the driver’s seat for a PGA TOUR card with one event remaining in the season. The 29-year-old VanDerLaan, gaming an all-Titleist setup that includes his Pro V1x golf ball, GT2 driver and fairway, NEW T100 long irons, Vokey SM10 wedges and Scotty Cameron Newport putter, posted back-to-back 67’s over the weekend at the Ohio State’s Scarlet Course to reach 17 under and win by three. His victory in the penultimate KFT event in 2025 saw him climb 37 spots on the Points List up to No. 15 after beginning the week at No. 52. The top-20 finishers by season’s end secure PGA TOUR cards for 2026. 

VanDerLaan, who began the week with a course record-tying 62, was in full control over the 72 holes, hitting 83% GIR (T2) and 63% FIR (T7). His steady ball-striking was complemented by exceptional play on the greens, as he averaged 1.67 putts per GIR (7th) and converted a field-best 27 birdies. 

WITB | John VanDerLaan: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball; GT2 10.0 driver; GT2 15.0, TSi2 21.0 fairways; NEW T100 4-5 irons, 620 CB 6-P irons; Vokey Design SM10 50.12F, 56.08M, 60.04T wedges; Scotty Cameron Newport tour prototype putter 

Playing his Pro V1x Yellow golf ball, Doug Barron finished birdie-birdie-birdie on Sunday at Pebble Beach to win his fourth PGA TOUR Champions title. Barron, who led the field in Scrambling, getting up-and-down on 16 of 17 attempts, played his final 36 holes in 66-67 without a bogey en route to the one-shot victory. 

Drew Nesbitt (Pro V1) made birdie on the second and third extra hole following regulation play, locking up his first career PGA TOUR Americas title. Nesbitt, 30, climbs to No. 8 on the Fortinet Cup standings with the win, with the top-10 finishers on the season-long points list after next week’s finale earning Korn Ferry Tour cards for 2026. 

This week, Nesbitt carded four rounds of 66 or better (66-65-64-65) to post 20 under, a total that was matched by A.J. Ewart (Pro V1x). After the two exchanged a par and a birdie each on their two extra trips around the 18th hole, Nesbitt sealed the victory with a birdie on the par-3 ninth.  

Nesbitt was in full control for the week in British Columbia, hitting 75% fairways in regulation (2nd) and 78% greens in regulation (T11). 

Sungkug Park (Pro V1x) closed in 5-under 66 to win his second career KPGA title and put the finishing touches on a commanding four-shot margin of victory at 16 under. 

Park led a 1-through-5 finish for Titleist golf ball players on the final leaderboard, while a total of nine of the top 10 finishers played the #1 ball in golf. Seven of the top 10 also gamed a Titleist driver. 

Titleist was the overwhelming #1 ball and most played driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge and putter this week on the KPGA. 

The winner of the Golfzon Open played two Vokey SM10 wedges: 52.08F, 58.06K. 

Louis Albertse (Pro V1x) made birdie on the second playoff hole to claim his third career Sunshine Tour title. Albertse was clutch down the stretch, converting four birdies on the back nine to shoot 66 and match the clubhouse lead at 11 under.  

Overall, Albertse was among the 102 players who teed up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball, accounting for 80% of the field. 

Dayeon Lee (Pro V1x) prevailed in extra holes to win her ninth career KLPGA title. Lee began Sunday three shots off the pace, but a closing 3-under 69 saw her close the gap and force a playoff before winning on the second extra hole. 

Playing in his first USGA championship, the winner of the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship closed out the 36-hole final, 3 and 2. The 38-year-old was in control over his Pro V1 golf ball all week long, as he cruised to six match victories – with only one of them reaching the penultimate hole, and five of his matches ending in a 3-and-2 margin of victory or greater. 

Both finalists and all four semifinalists also played a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball. 

Also among the winner’s equipment setup were three Vokey wedges: SM9 52, SM10 56, 60. 

With the win, the champion receives an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Open and an invitation to the 2026 Masters. 

For the week in Scottsdale, Titleist was the overwhelming #1 ball, with 229 competitors (87%) teeing up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model. 

Titleist was also the most played driver (40%), fairway (34%), hybrid (41%), utility (44%), iron (35%), wedge (66%) and putter (27%) at Troon. 

This week’s champion on the JLPGA brought three Vokey SM10 wedges to the winner’s circle: 48.10F, 54.12D, 58.06K.