FootJoy ended 2009 just how it began...as the #1 Shoe and Glove at retail and on professional Tours around the world. Our Tour success featured memorable performances from some of the Tour's biggest stars. We recently caught up with a few FJ players to talk about the year that was and look ahead to 2010.
What was your favorite golf memory this year, either from the professional Tours or in your own game? Click on COMMENTS to share your thoughts.
Steve Stricker (SYNR-G, PureTouch Limited) made a run at Player of the Year honors on the heels of three strong wins throughout the year. After beginning the year with five top 10 finishes, Stricker captured his first win of the year in a playoff at Colonial when he stuck his approach to 3 feet on the second hole of sudden death. He was back for more at the John Deere Classic and set the course record with a 61 in round two before closing with a final round 64 to notch his second win in four starts. Strick then notched arguably the biggest victory of his career when he birdied the final two holes to win the Deutsche Bank Championship during the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Lee Westwood (FJ ICON, PureTouch Limited) finishes the year as the highest placed European in the Official World Golf Rankings having won the inaugural Race to Dubai on the European Tour. He last won the Harry Vardon trophy in 2000, reaching Number Four in the World in the process, and equaled that feat in a momentous 2009 campaign. His superb season, capped by victories in the Portugal Masters and the Dubai World Championship, was one of the many highlights of an outstanding year.
Padraig Harrington (SYNR-G, PureTouch Limited) continued to work on some major swing changes and saw the fruits of his labor towards the end of the season. Beginning with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitaitonal, Harrington reeled off an incredible string of six consecutive top ten finishes, including all four FedEx Cup Playoff events which feature some of the strongest fields of the year.
Zach Johnson (SYNR-G, StaSof) got the year started off right by defeating fellow FJ players Adam Scott and David Toms in the first full field event of the year at the Sony Open in Hawaii then successfully defended his title at the Valero Texas Open.
Zach Johnson held off fellow FJ staffer, Jason Dufner to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Forth Worth, TX. Dufner, coming off two wins in the past month, had the upper hand beginning the round with a one stroke lead over Johnson.
Johnson in DryJoys Tour MyJoys and StaSof, struck first birdieing the second hole to Dufner's bogey. Dufner (FJ Apparel and FJ ICON) fought back with birdies at five and six to retake the lead. Johnson remained steady and both players headed to the back nine tied.
On the par five 11th Johnson birdied to Dufner's bogey creating a two shot lead for the Iowa native. Johnson extended the lead on the 15th hole to three shots. Johnson would not relinquish his lead eventually winning by one stroke over Dufner.
“In some respects, I kind of feel like I took down a lion,” Johnson said of Dufner post round, adding, "He’s been at the top of his game.”
This is Johnson's eighth PGA Tour victory and first since winning the Crown Plaza Invitational in 2010. The win also moves Johnson to third in the FedEx Cup race while Dufner remains at the top.
FJ Wins, You Win - Click here for your chance to win DryJoys Tour and StaSof like Johnson wore en route to victory in Fort Worth.This Sweepstakes will begin at 12:01AM ET on 05/28/2012 and end 06/1/2012 at 11:59PM ET.
Zach Johnson is no stranger to winning on the PGA Tour and this weekend the former Master's Champion added another to his victory total with a win at the John Deere Classic.
Johnson, in DryJoys Tour and StaSof, fired a final round six under par 65 to jump in front of 54 hole leader Troy Matteson. Now two strokes back with two to play, Matteson (DryJoys Tour) jarred a 60 foot eagle putt to tie the Johnson's clubhouse lead at 20 under par. Making par on the last, the two players would head back on the course for a sudden death playoff.
On the first playoff hole both players exchanged head scratching double bogeys and headed back to the 18th tee for the third time today. This time Johnson rifled his 190 yard fairway bunker approach to within a foot of the cup. Matteson needed more late day heroics to have any chance to extend the playoff but missed his birdie bid giving Zach a tap in for the victory. Johnson converted the tap in making him the 2012 John Deer Classic Champion.
Zach later stated of his clutch playoff approach shot, “I think we’re stating the obvious...That was my shot of the week.”
This is Zach's ninth win on the PGA Tour and second of the season. The win also moves Zach to second in the FedEx Cup standings.
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