Browse Blog Posts by Tags

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.

FJ player Lee Westwood has been named European Tour Golfer of the Year following a momentous season which culminated in him winning the inaugural Race to Dubai and being crowned Europe’s Number One golfer for the second time in his career.

Westwood, who relied on the new FJ ICON golf shoes and new PureTouch Limited glove since both were introduced earlier this year, won twice on the European Tour, at the Portugal Masters and the Dubai World Championship and climbed to a career-best number four in the Official World Golf Ranking. His final round 8-under 64 in Dubai is considered by some to be one of the greatest final rounds in European Tour history.

Westwood's level of consistency, particularly over the second half of the season, was also something to behold as he recorded 11 top ten finishes from his 13 events after the US Open. His victory in the Portugal Masters was his 30th title worldwide.

The 36 year old Englishman has been named The European Tour Golfer of the Year on two previous occasions, in 1998 and 2000, and becomes only the fourth three-time winner.

Westwood said: “It is a fantastic honour to win The European Tour Golfer of the Year and cap a wonderful season for me and all those who have helped me get to this position.

“I have won this award twice before but this probably means more to me in recognising how I have fought my way back to the top. When I last finished Number One in 2000 it was special as I won six events and the World Match Play that year. But to then drop completely into obscurity and come back from that, get back into the World’s top five and crown it all by winning the Dubai World Championship and the first Race to Dubai means a lot."

Lee Westwood (FJ ICON, PureTouch Limited) fired a course record 8-under 64 Sunday to run away from the field with a six shot victory at the Dubai World Championship. The 36-year-old shot four rounds in the 60's to finish the week with a 23-under total and lead the way for FJ players who swept the top four positions on the leaderboard. Ross McGowan (FJ ICON style #52070, StaSof glove) carded a final round 68, including five straight birdies from the 12th, to secure second place at 17-under after a sustained charge from Rory McIlroy (FJ ICON MyJoys, PureTouch Limited) who birdied five holes on the back nine to finish third at 15-under. Padraig Harrington (SYNR-G style #53918, PureTouch Limited) finished in a tie for fourth.

Westwood also secured the season-long Race to Dubai and recognition as the European Number One for the second time in his career. He came to the final event trailing Rory McIlroy. Westwood's victory was the 32nd victory worldwide as a professional and his second victory on The European Tour this season. It also moves Westwood up to World Number Four in the Official World Golf Rankings, matching his highest career position.

“I’m delighted to be standing here and it’s got to be the best day of my golfing career. I think that's about as good as I've ever played under this pressure," said Westwood.

“Hopefully there will be more, maybe a Major in the future. Some of the young players coming through, like Rory McIlroy, put me under a lot of pressure so it will be tough. I’m going to enjoy the rest of 2009.”

After 50 events and 382 days, the European Tour's Race to Dubai culminates this week with the top 58 players competing in the Dubai World Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. At stake is recognition as Europe's number one golfer of 2009 and, of the three players who can win the season-long Race by winning the World Championship, two of those are FootJoy players. Another can triumph with a win and some help.

Leading the way following his runner-up finish last week, is 20-year-old Rory McIlroy (FJ ICON). McIlroy burst on the scene as a Tour rookie this year and sent notice he would be a force to be reckoned with when he finished tied for second in his first professional event at the UBS Hong Kong Open. In fact, he recorded four top 10's in his first six events, none more important than his dramatic wire-to-wire victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. Overall, he's amassed 13 top 10 finishes this year - including six in his last seven events - to claim the top spot in the Race to Dubai with one event remaining. Might McIlroy have the edge considering he is sponsored by the resort where the tournament will be contested?

Rory has been battling another FJ player for the top spot in the Race most of the year and narrowly passed him just last week. However, Lee Westwood's (FJ ICON, PureTouch Limited glove) pursuit of a second Order of Merit title remains firmly in his hands as a victory in Dubai will give him the crown. The 36-year old ended a two-year winless streak just last month with his win at the Portugal Masters and has contended at several other events throughout the year. In fact, after getting off to a fairly slow start, Lee has reeled off an incredible 10 top 10 finishes over his last 12 tournaments, including five consecutive top 10's twice!

Another FJ player, Ross Fisher (FJ ICON) is also in position to win the Race to Dubai if he wins the World Championship and McIlroy and Westwood finish worse than second place. Fisher won the inaugural Volvo World Match Play title a few weeks ago in a grueling 36-hole final to collect the third European Tour win of his career. He has proven himself capable of challenging at the very highest level by leading all four Major Championships at one stage in 2009. 

So after all the dust settles on Sunday, do you think McIlroy, Westwood or Fisher will be standing tall as the 2009 Race to Dubai Champion?

Lee Westwood ended more than two years without a title by capturing the Portugal Masters by two shots. Wearing the new FJ ICON golf shoe and PureTouch Limited glove from FootJoy, Westwood closed with a 6-under 66 on Sunday and finished with a 23-under 265 total for his 30th career win.

Westwood came out hot, converting birdies on his first four holes but it was his final birdie at the 17th hole that sealed the victory.  Westwood went long and left at the 589 yard 17th and although he was able to take a free drop he still faced a tricky shot.

"All I could see was trees (right in front of him) and water (over the green) - and I had a really tight lie," he added.

However, from around 30 yards he almost holed it, tapped in for birdie and had his two shot lead that he would take the clubhouse.

In addition to getting back to his winning ways, Westwood also takes over the lead in the European Tour's Race to Dubai, passing fellow FJ ICON fan Rory McIlroy, and climbs back into the top five of the world golf rankings, a goal of his since 2007.