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Joost Luiten won the rain-shortened Iskandor Johor Open at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club with a three round total of 15 under par.  Joost narrowly beat out fellow FootJoy staffers Daniel Chopra (-14) and three time major champion Padraig Harrington (-13) on his way to the victory.  

The Dutchman opened the week with a spectacular eight under par 63 to grab the early lead.  Stumbling early in his second round to a front nine three over par-38, Joost fought back birdieing his last three holes to finish the day at one under par - nine total. 

Starting the final day four strokes behind Chopra, Joost would have to put together another great round to give himself a chance to win his first European Tour event.  Joost wearing FJ Sport and FJ RainGrip shot a front nine, five under par 30 to race up the leaderboard and take control of the tournament.  Now with the lead, Luiten makes one birdie and eight pars to close out the field and win by one.

Luiten later said of playing with the lead, "My caddie said to me, when we had four holes left to play, ‘The only guy you’re going to lose to is yourself’, and I think he was right. I just had to play my game and let the other guys chase me. If they do chase me, well done, we come back. But it was good enough, so I’m really happy."

Joost's victory gives him a European Tour exemption through 2013, and becomes his fifth consecutive top ten finish on the European Tour.

For more read at EuropeanTour.com

Playing in his native Ireland at this week's Irish Open, Padraig Harrington will be sporting some curious looking shoelaces in his FootJoy golf shoes.  These laces are adorned with the Special Olympics logo promoting  a message of respect, acceptance, and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.

Harrington has been very hands on during his time with the program, often visiting Special Olympic athletes and coaches to conduct golf training sessions.

Paddy became a spokesman for the Special Olympics back in May 2010 and selflessly demonstrates his support stating, "I am proud to be part of the Wear the Laces for Special Olympics initiative, tied together with my friends at Special Olympics; which I hope will raise awareness for the movement.”

For more read at Europeantour.com

Padraig Harrington closed with a 3-under 69 to win the Iskandar Johor Open on Sunday, securing his first victory in two years. The three-time major champion, who trusted SYNR-G #53918 and Pure Touch Limited, finished the week with a 20-under 268 total for a three shot win at the Asia Tour event.

"There's no doubt that it was my week to win," the Irishman said. "If you had followed me for the four days, I don't think anyone would have questioned that my name was written on the trophy before the tournament started ... I hit some good shots and had a few breaks."

Harrington last won in 2008 at the PGA Championship. The 39-year-old was making his debut in the event.

It was Harrington's third Asian Tour title after previous wins in Taipei and Hong Kong.

"Two years is a long time, especially when you're reminded every week you play," Harrington said. "It's nice and very important for me to win. It's somewhat a monkey off your back."

* Excerpts taken from an Associated Press story

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.

Conditions at East Lake kept scores low once again during round two. More than half the field will begin the weekend within five shots of the lead and, with Saturday's third round pushed up due to inclement weather forecasted for the afternoon, you can be sure there's plenty of drama to come. Click on the image below to hear from Padraig Harrington (SYNR-G style #53918) who compared the atmosphere and course conditions to a major championship and sits just one shot off the lead following a second round 1-under 69.