Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
Despite all the rain last week in Atlanta, the grounds staff at East Lake was able to, not only make the course playable, but difficult! While the course was soft from tee to green, the greens were firm and prevented players from really attacking the pins resulting in only eight players breaking par in round one. After the players got through the first nine, the grounds crew was actually watering the greens which almost seems comical considering the deluge the course suffered last weekend. Although more rain is in the forecast for Friday, expect the greens to remain fast and firm for the second round, although you can also expect the players to make some adjustments and find some birdies out on the course.
We're seeing a lot of players wearing SYNR-G this week at East Lake as they look for the most stable platform to combat the soggy conditions. SYNR-G wearers Zach Johnson (StaSof glove) and Steve Stricker (PureTouch Limited glove), who both wore style #53870 in round one and can win the FedEx Cup by winning THE TOUR Championship, sit at even par after round one, just four shots back.
Padraig Harrington (SYNR-G style #53918, PureTouch Limited glove) continues to play well and sits just one shot off the lead following a first round 3-under 67. Harrington has finished in the top 10 in each of his last five starts, including two runner-up placements.
Marc Leishman (SYNR-G style #53883) is playing in his first TOUR Championship and is in great position following a first round even par 70.
Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
The story from East Lake so far this week has been rain but it appears the course has rebounded nicely so we can begin to focus on the incredible drama that could unfold Sunday afternoon. While there still may be some debate and confusion about the format of the FedEx Cup, the players seem to be very supportive of the change that allows for any player in the top five in FedEx Cup points to win the cup by winning the TOUR Championship this week. Three of the five players who control their own destiny, and could be putting for $10 million come Sunday evening - Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum - wear FootJoy's SYNR-G golf shoes.
Lorne Rubenstein of the Globe & Mail debates the "greatness" of East Lake Golf Club as a championship course, considering the unusual par-3 closing hole.
Tim Rosaforte tells a great story of perseverance about local Massachusetts golfer, Fran Quinn, who birdied his final hole last week to win the Nationwide Tour's Albertson's Boise Open. The 44-year-old, who wears the new SYNR-G style #53918, all but assured himself of a PGA Tour card for next season, his first since 1992.
Let's see what some of our colleagues are up to:
TITLEIST - Check out this cool Ball Mark Trivia Game on the Titleist blog and find out some things you may not know about the players who will be teeing up a Titleist today at THE TOUR Championship.
CAMERON - You never know what Tour player or VIP you might see when you peak inside the Scotty Cameron putter studio. The latest look unveiled a 9-time world surfing champion who stopped by for some help with his putter.
COBRA - In the latest edition of "Face Off with Feherty," Gary asks David Feherty, considering his new citizenship in the United States, would he ever consider a role as assistant captain on the U.S. Ryder Cup team?
WHO'S YOUR PICK TO WIN THE FEDEX CUP?
Here's a great breakdown from PGATOUR.com of each player in the top 30 and what each must do to win the FedEx Cup. More than half the field will be wearing FJ shoes, so which FOOTJOY player has the best chance of bringing home the hardware and the $10 million prize? Is it Stricker, Zach or Heath who can win the Cup by winning THE TOUR Championship or is it someone from further back in the rankings? Click on COMMENTS to give us your guess as to how this plays out!
Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
Following a disappointing finish at The Barclays where he missed a putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff, Steve Stricker (SYNR-G, PureTouch Limited) rebounded in a huge way Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship. With fellow FootJoy players Jason Dufner (FJ ICON) and Scott Verplank (ReelFit) waiting on the tee for a possible playoff, Stricker drained a 15-footer for birdie on the 17th hole then slammed the door with a clutch up-and-down for birdie from just off the 18th green to win by one. The victory was Stricker's third of the season, moved him up to a career-high No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking and gave him sole possession of the lead in the FedExCup standings heading to Chicago for the third of four playoff events.
Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
We were on the range Tuesday at the PGA Tour's second playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship. We were not only checking in with our FootJoy players but also set up a large display to show them the full line of FJ ICON styles and all the options available through the MyJoys program. In short, the players were thrilled! Check out the pictures from Wednesday and we'll post video next week so you can hear what players such as David Toms, Charley Hoffman, John Merrick and Jason Bohn think of FootJoy's new flagship product and all the custom options!
Posted By: Chris Garrett ·
One week after Heath Slocum (SYNR-G style #53925, StaSof glove) wondered if he would even make it to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, he finished off a compelling afternoon at Liberty National by making a 20-foot par putt on the 18th hole to win The Barclays by one shot.
"That putt was magical," Slocum said. "I'll remember that the rest of my life."
Slocum was tied for the lead with fellow SYNR-G loyalist Steve Stricker (SYNR-G style #53883, PureTouch Limited glove) going to the final hole. Both hit into fairway bunkers off the tee and neither could reach the green. With several of the world's top players waiting in the wings for a playoff should neither make par, Slocum raised both arms in the air when his par putt broke gently back to the left and disappeared into the cup.
Stricker had a 10-foot par putt to force a playoff with Slocum but cringed when it caught the left lip. He closed with a 69 and finished in a four-way tie for second.
Slocum qualified for these Playoffs with two points to spare -- he was No. 124 out of 125 players who advanced to this postseason bonanza. His victory assures him a spot in THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola and a shot at the $10 million prize.
"That's what it's all about," Slocum said. "I was sweating it out last week. I didn't even know if I'd be here. I came in here with the attitude that I had nothing to lose."
He turned into a huge winner.
Slocum, who came into The Barclays at No. 197 in the Official World Golf Ranking, finished at 9-under 275 and earned $1.35 million for his third career PGA TOUR victory, and first in four years. He vaults from 124th in the FedEx Cup rankings to number three.