UK Blog

Thornton Melts the Opposition

2013-06-17T11:18:00Z

An emotional Simon Thornton dedicated his maiden European Tour victory to his late father after the Irishman held his nerve to claim the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open title in a play-off and fittingly on Father’s Day.

Thornton (FJ Sport & StaSof) holed several tricky putts on the back nine but left his best till last on the final hole, as he drained a ten-foot putt to take it to extra holes.

Under the most intense of pressure, the 36 year old rolled it into the cup and clenched his fist in celebration as he signed for a one under par 70.

He kept his cool once again in the play-off, finding the fringe of the green, The Irishman then rolled a perfectly-weighted putt from 30 feet which slid just left of the hole, ensuring his par and most importantly the win.

“It’s so big for me,” said a tearful Thornton. “On father’s day too, he passed away three years ago and it still hurts, but they are happy tears today. This is dedicated to him.”

“I didn’t play particularly well today in perfect conditions but I got up and down when I had to and holed good putts.”

“I didn’t put myself in position very well so I was scrambling but my short game held up. I've been working hard on my short game for a couple of years now so I'm delighted. I changed my putter and my putting technique last week too so it all came together this week.”

“On the last putt – I had been saying to myself all day, if I'm going to make it easy for myself you need to try on every putt and make sure it goes where you want to hit it – so I just picked a line and willed it in and it dropped.”

Thornton’s rise is an incredible story of progression to the top of European golf against all odds, as he was a seven handicap golfer just over a decade ago.

Born in Bradford, England, he moved to Ireland to become an Assistant Professional at Royal County Down Golf Club before rising through the Irish professional ranks to the Challenge Tour and then The European Tour.

“Hopefully this is a stepping stone for me,” he said. “I’ll go home this week now and celebrate, take a week off, and then play in the Irish Open.

“Last year was a huge disappointment on The European Tour after getting there through the Challenge Tour.

“To come here and play like I did is incredible. What happens now with this category is fantastic; it’s mad how things have changed. It’s surreal.”

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your chance to win a pair of FJ Sport shoes & StaSof glove just like Simon Thornton used en route to victory in the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 10th 2013 to 11.59 on the 13th June 2013.

Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open

2013-06-14T09:36:00Z

This week our travels take us to Aa St Omer GC,St Omer,France:

[Gallery:13_Saint_Omer_Open]

Joost Deserts For Luiten

2013-06-10T12:21:00Z

Joost Luiten overcame difficult playing conditions in Atzenbrugg to secure his second European Tour victory in style as the Dutchman claimed the Lyoness Open by two shots.

The 27 year old shrugged off a shaky start and a one-hour weather delay to card a closing 71 at Diamond Country Club to finish 17 under par and win by two shots.

Luiten (FJ Sport BOA) began the day with a three shot lead but saw that instantly reduced to one when he three-putted the opening hole.

A birdie on the second quickly repaired the damage, but Luiten's lead was back to one again when France’s Romain Wattel (FJ ICON & StaSof) carded his fourth birdie of the day at the sixth.

The Dutchman, whose previous victory came in the Iskandar Johor Open in 2011, responded with a two-putt birdie on the par five seventh, and when Wattel failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker on the ninth, the gap was back to three shots once more.

Play was suspended due to the threat of lightning in the area with Luiten on the 14th tee, but he showed no ill effects when it resumed an hour later and struck the decisive *** on the 16th, where his approach almost span back into the hole and set up an easy birdie.

Speaking about the weather delay, Luiten added: "At that time I wanted to play on but it was good to have a break for me because I wasn't playing really well so I just had some food and tried to focus again and went out there and tried to make pars and sneak in a birdie and that's what I did."

The World Number 137 – who will climb into the top 100 today declared:

"It's been a great week so I am really, really happy,"

"It was a long day, I started off with a bogey but I hit the ball nicely so I just wanted to focus on that, hit the greens, two-putt and make the others chase me."

"Unfortunately I made a few mistakes on the greens and didn't make a lot of putts, but in the end I was three clear after my birdie on 16 and that gave me a little bit of air. It's always nice to finish par, par and hold the trophy."

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your chance to win a pair of FJ Sport shoes just like Joost Luiten used en route to victory in the Lyoness Open.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 10th 2013 to 11.59 on the 13th June 2013.

The 2013 Lyoness Open

2013-06-06T08:15:00Z

Amoungst the downpours in Austria this week we are at Diamond CC in Atzenbrugg:

[Gallery:13_Lyoness_Open]

Mikko's Finntastic Victory

2013-06-03T08:44:00Z

Mikko Ilonen cruised to a three shot victory at the Nordea Masters, winning his first European Tour title for six years at Bro Hof Slott.

The 33 year old, whose two previous victories came in 2007, the latter in this event, started the day two clear and an imposing display meant the gap was not closed, despite a hugely impressive 12 under weekend total from FJ Apparel Ambassador Bernd Wiesberger (FJ Sport & StaSof)

After turning in 34, Ilonen (FJ ICON & StaSof) then birdied the 11th from 12 feet, before his only set-back with a three-putt bogey at the long 12th. A sublime chip to three feet at the next quickly atoned for that error, and there were no dramas over the closing stretch.

A three under par 69 ensured a 21 under total and three shot victory margin for the Finn.

“It’s pretty special. I could feel a lot of support from Finland, especially today," said Ilonen,

Asked about his bogey at the 12th, he added: “I just got ahead of myself with the first putt. I’ve said for weeks now it doesn’t really bother me if I make a bogey because I know I can make it up and it was the first time I went for the 13th in two.”

Ilonen had been a runner-up in Morocco before finishing second to Brett Rumford in China already this season, and was pleased with the way he dealt with those disappointments.

“To bounce back this soon is really good,” he continued. “It’s really satisfying, but the show I saw in China - I didn’t lose the tournament, Brett won it, so hats off to him.

“Obviously I’ve been waiting for this moment for a few weeks now. People have been expecting me to win but most of all I’ve been expecting myself to win, so to pull it off here after those second places is very satisfying.

Last week’s winner Matteo Manassero (DryJoys Tour & StaSof) put in another admirable performance finishing tied fourth. The Italian carded an ill-timed double bogey on the 18th green on Saturday, however, which left him with too much to do in his final round.

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your chance to win a pair of FJ ICON shoes and a StaSof glove just like Mikko Ilonen used en route to victory in the Nordea Masters.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 3rd 2013 to 11.59 on the 6th June 2013.

The 2013 Nordea Masters

2013-05-29T08:50:30Z

From last week's buzz of Wentworth we head to Sweden and to the serene Bro Hoff Slot golf club in Stockholm:

[Gallery:13_Nordea_Masters]

Manassero Reigns Supreme at Wentworth.

2013-05-28T11:40:00Z

Italy's Matteo Manassero became the youngest ever winner of the BMW PGA Championship as he claimed his fourth European Tour title at the age of 20 on the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off at the magical Wentworth club.

It what was a testing week due to the ever changing weather conditions, the Italian (DryJoys Tour and StaSof) held strong scoring 4, 5, 4, and 4 in the play-off to take the title.

Overnight leader Alejandro Cañizares (Contour and SciFlex) missed from 18 feet on the last for an eagle to join the play-off and Lee Westwood (FJ ICON and StaSof) held a two shot lead after birdies on the second, third and fourth, but the Worksop born professional couldn’t keep his momentum playing the back nine and he finished equal ninth.

Manassero who looked very comfortable on the range at the start of the week shot rounds of 69, 71, 69 and 69 – a total of 10 under par and at the age 20 years and 37 days, beats the previous record of Bernard Gallacher, who was 20 years and 97 days when he won in 1969.

"I feel unbelievable, really emotional," The Italian announced after his dramatic win.

"It's been an amazing week. I have always felt something really special about this place and this tournament. Everything has come together this week. I managed to play well and managed to stay in contention after a tough day on Friday and pulled it off with this play-off."

"I am the happiest man in the world right now."

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your chance to win a pair of DryJoy Tour shoes and a StaSof glove just like Matteo Manassero used en route to victory in the BMW PGA Championship.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 27th May 2013 to 11.59 on the 30th May 2013.

The 2013 BMW PGA Championship from Wentworth.

2013-05-23T12:55:39Z

We're very fortunate this week to be a part of a fantastic week in Surrey at the historic Wentworth club:

[Gallery:13_BMW_Wentworth]

Uihlein is Majestic in Madeira

2013-05-20T09:15:00Z

Peter Uihlein claimed his maiden professional title in superb style at the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI as the American’s nerveless four under par round of 68 earned him a two-shot victory at Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra

Having started the day one shot off the overnight lead, Uihlein wearing DryJoys Tour shoes, StaSof glove and head-to-toe in FJ Apparel, got off to a stumbling start with a bogey on the first but he atoned for that blemish with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth.

The 2010 US Amateur Champion, picked up another shot at the seventh, but dropped back again with two consecutive bogeys just before the turn.

The Floridian then came out fighting on the way back with four birdies, including three in a row from the 11th, which left him two shots clear on 15 under par and this presented Uihlein with his first win, in his 16th European Tour appearance.

“I’m just thrilled,” said the 23 year old. “To do it playing well on the back nine, coming down the stretch, is sweet.

“I just knuckled down I guess. It was all putting that did it today, I was just trying to free up and they started to roll in so it was nice.

“I hit some good putts coming down the stretch. When I was at the 17th I saw Morten was on 15 under and I thought it might have been a little more difficult but when I got to the 18th green I obviously saw he had dropped back. I’m just delighted to have won.”

Congratulations Peter, it was a pleasure to see you close it out in style for your first win!

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your chance to win a pair of DryJoy Tour shoes and a StaSof glove just like Peter Uihlein used en route to victory in the Madeira Islands Open.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 20th May 2013 to 11.59 on the 23rd May 2013.

The 2013 Madeira Islands Open.

2013-05-16T08:57:52Z

Stunning views are on offer at the Clube de Golf do Santo de Serra course in Portugal this week:

[Gallery:13_Madeira_Island_Open]

Red Hot Rumford & Victory for Wiesberger

2013-05-07T08:19:13Z

After an intense play-off victory at the Ballantine’s Championship last Sunday, matters were much more straightforward at Binhai Lake GC for Brett Rumford, as he became only the 31st player to win consecutive titles on The European Tour at the Volvo China Open.

The 35 year old, who wore a full line up of FJ apparel in addition to FJ ICON shoes and SciFlex glove, surged clear of the field with five birdies in ten holes delivering a short-game masterclass to finish on 16 under par.

The jubilant Australian declared "As with last week I’m kind of speechless at the moment." and further added “It’s quite surreal – it’s the first time I’ve actually played the week after a win so I’m more than pleased. It’s hard to get my head around it at the moment.”

“I managed to get up and down when I really needed to. There are some very tight lies round the perimeters of the greens, so it was tricky.”

The fourth and fifth European Tour titles of Rumford’s career signal a remarkable upturn in form – he was 138th on The Race to Dubai a fortnight ago but now leads the way on €811,806, having won €775,406 in his past two tournaments alone.

“My putter was also really on song, as it was last week. It puts a lot of pressure on your opponent when you’re saving par all the time.”

Over on the Asian Tour, fellow FJ Staffer and FJ Performance Apparel Ambassador Bernd Wiesberger sealed a dramatic one stroke victory at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.

Played at the stunning Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Bernd wearing head to toe FJ apparel and FJ ICON shoes and StaSof glove, shot a front nine of 34 to climb to the top of the leaderboard.

The Austrian added an eagle at the 12th and a birdie at the 16th to post a 15 under par total, one ahead of the field.

The 27 year old showed periods of exquisite iron play and stated post victory "I was struggling in the beginning after my birdie on one. But at the turn I got a bit of momentum going because I was confident with my ball striking.”

This is Bernd's first victory of the 2013 season and sixth international victory overall in what has been a scintillating weekend for FootJoy.

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your second chance in 7 days to win a pair of FJ ICON shoes and a SciFlex glove just like Brett Rumford used en route to victory in the Volvo China Open.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on the 6th May 2013 to 11.59 on the 9th May 2013.

Binhai Lake GC is the Venue For This Week's European Tour Event - The 2013 Volvo China Open.

2013-05-03T10:22:00Z

Let's have a look inside the ropes and see who is around...

[Gallery:13_Volvo_China]

Eagle Lands Rumford Play-Off Victory

2013-04-29T10:30:51Z

Australia’s Brett Rumford overcame a late wobble to win the Ballantine’s Championship after a dramatic three-way play-off.

An eagle at the first extra hole gave the 35 year old a fourth European Tour title and first for six years after a closing 68 left him on 11 under par.

Rumford wearing a full line up of FJ apparel in addition to his FJ ICON shoes and SciFlex glove, had raced to the turn in just 30 strokes in the final round and still led by two shots with two holes to play, only to run up a double-bogey six on the 17th after a wild drive led to a penalty drop from a ***.

Another errant tee-shot on the 18th meant Rumford eventually had to hole from eight feet to save par, and fellow FJ player, Scotland’s Peter Whiteford (FJ ICON and SciFlex) knew a four at the last would be enough to win.

The 32 year old chipped to five feet after missing the green with his approach, but agonisingly missed the birdie putt to finish alongside Rumford on 11 under.

The three players returned to the 18th tee and, after a quick call to his coach, Rumford hit a much better drive and having seen his opponents fail to reach the green in two fired a brilliant approach to four feet and eagled to take the title.

“It was an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions out there this afternoon, obviously my last five holes yesterday and front nine today got me in a great position to take this tournament.”

In what was a fantastic weekend for FJ winners, Billy Horschel claimed his first PGA Tour victory by tying the course record eight under par-64 to win the Zurich Classic.

The 26-year old began the final day two strokes back of the lead and wasted little time catching the leaders, carding four birdies on the front nine for a 32. Continuing his red hot play, Horschel made consecutive birdies at 10, 11, and 12 to race to the top of the leaderboard.

Dropping a stroke at the 15th, Billy rebounded with a birdie at the following hole to keep the lead. Needing a birdie at the par five final hole to wrap up the victory, Horschel drained a 27 foot birdie bid and exploded into emotion at the realisation that he is now a PGA Tour winner.

Horschel relied on FJ ICON MyJoys and StaSof throughout his breakthrough performance.

FJ WINS, YOU WIN: Click here for your shot to win a pair of FJ ICON shoes and a SciFlex glove just like Brett Rumford used en route to victory.

No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited, Open to UK & Ireland residents 18 years or older, FJ Wins, You Win offered from 9.01am on 29th April 2013 to 11.59 on 02nd May 2013.

2013 Ballantines Championship Tour Update

2013-04-26T07:56:49Z

This week, Blackstone GC on the edge of Seoul, plays host to the European Tour for the 2013 Ballantines Championship. Check out the slide show below for a look behind the ropes of this week's event.

[Gallery:13_ballantines_champs]

A Look Behind the Ropes at the Open de Espana

2013-04-18T11:18:00Z

This week, we are at the Open de Espana at the Parador de El Saler course near Valencia. Check out the slide show below for a look behind the ropes of this week's event.

[Gallery:spanish_open]