FJ Blog

Jason Dufner Claims First PGA Tour Victory in Louisiana

Jason Dufner has been on the cusp of winning several tournaments in the past two years and today he fulfilled his potential by claiming the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.  

Through the first three rounds of play, Dufner shot rounds of 67-65-67 to sit atop the leaderboard at 17-under par, two clear of his competition heading into Sunday's final round.

Dufner, wearing XPS-1 and FJ Apparel, started off the day with five straight pars before a bogey on the sixth hole that dropped him from the lead.  He rebounded quickly with back-to-back birdies on seven and eight to retake the top spot.  Dufner added another birdie at 10 to retain his lead.  Then after several gutsy back nine par saves, Dufner's drive on the par four 16th found a hazard.  With an alligator lurking nearby, Dufner wisely took a drop and hit his ball to the right side of the green.  Now looking at 40-plus feet for par to stay tied for the lead, Dufner calmly rolled in the improbable putt to keep his momentum.  After grinding out two more pars on 17 and 18, Dufner was headed to a sudden death playoff. 

Both players exchanged pars on the opening playoff hole and they headed back to the 18th tee for the third time today.  This time Dufner seized the moment, hitting the par five 18th in two shots and making a routine two putts for birdie and the victory.  This is Dufner's first PGA Tour win.  Post round Dufner stated of his winning performance, "I am really, really excited and to get the monkey off my back is a great feeling". 

Luke Donald (FJ ICON MyJoys) also put on an impressive performance, shooting a final round 67 to finish solo third and retaking the number one spot on the Official World Golf Rankings.  

Curtis returns to winner's circle in Texas

Former British Open Champion, Ben Curtis captured an emotional victory in San Antonio this week at the Valero Texas Open.  Curtis in head to toe FJ performance apparel, opened the week with back to back 67's, racing up the leaderboard with the 10-under par total.  Blustery winds made scoring difficult on Saturday as Curtis shot a one over par 73, despite the over par score Curtis retained the lead heading into the final round.

The tough scoring conditions from Saturday carried over to the final round, but Curtis (DryJoys Tour and StaSof) kept his head down and grinded out a front nine 35 to remain ahead of his challengers.  Then Curtis made early bogey's on the back nine to drop into a tie for the lead.  He fought back, making a string of pars before holing an unlikely 23-footer on the 17th hole to remain one ahead of his competition.  On the final hole, Curtis's challengers failed to make birdie giving Curtis two putts for the win.  He would finish the tournament out in style, holing the 12-footer for birdie and a two stroke victory.

This is Curtis's fourth PGA Tour win and first in the last six years adding post round, "It's been a tough couple of years just fighting through it." The win moves Curtis to the 28th spot on the FedEx Cup rankings.  

Bubba Watson Wins 2012 Masters

The big hitting lefty from Bagdad, Florida, Bubba Watson is now a Masters Champion.  Bubba wearing a new FJ ICON pattern and SPIDR2 glove, shot under par in each of the first three rounds of the tournament to sit at six under par after the first three days of competition.  For the final round Bubba was paired with fellow FJ Staffer Louis Oosthuizen.  Louis was one stroke in front of Bubba as they stepped onto the first tee of the final day.

Oosthuizen (DryJoys Tour and SciFlex) struck first, on the downhill par five second hole Louis blistered a four iron from over 250 yards at the open-center of the green.  The shot landed just short and took a hard break right towards the hole on the back of the green, the ball continued to roll and roll until hitting the flag and dropping into the cup for a double eagle.  This was only the forth double eagle in Masters history and first double eagle on the 2nd hole.  The albatross moved Louis to the top of the leaderboard - four strokes in front of Bubba Watson.

Bubba fought back with a birdie on the 5th hole to draw a shot closer to the leader Oosthuizen.

Watson kept the pressure on Oosthuizen converting a two putt birdie on the par five 13th hole.  He then added birdies on 14, 15, and 16 to draw even with the former British Open Champion.  Both players parred the final two holes, setting up a sudden death playoff.

Teeing off the eighteenth hole for the fifth time this week, both players hit drives straight up the narrow fairway.  They then exchanged brilliant approach shots, setting up potential birdies.  They both narrowly missed their birdie putts, halved pars, and headed to the steeply downhill tenth hole.  

Bubba's tee shot missed the fairway well right of his intended target, landing behind the galleries lining the fairway.  With Bubba seemingly in some trouble, Oosthuizen laid back with a fairway metal only to miss the green short on his approach.  Now Bubba sized up his shot from the pine straw right of the fairway, it called for a 30+ yard hook from a dodgy lie with a short iron to hit the green.  The lefty pulled the shot off perfectly giving him a birdie look for the win.  With Oostuizen failing to get up and down, Bubba would need two putts for the win.  Watson calmly lagged the putt to the hole and tapped in to claim the green jacket.   

Mahan wins for the second time in 2012

Hunter Mahan shot a 1-under 71 this Sunday to win the Shell Houston Open.  Hunter entered the final round one stroke off of the 54 hole lead thanks to a seven under par third round that shot sprung him up the crowded leaderboard.  

Mahan's final round started with eight straight pars before sticking his approach on the 237 yard par-3 ninth hole.  He converted the five foot birdie putt to take a one shot lead into the back nine.  Mahan added another birdie at the tenth hole to increase his lead.  The lead was one as Mahan stood on the tee of the treacherous 18th hole.  His drive split the fairway setting up a 200 yard approach to the large undulating green.  After a well struck iron shot, Mahan two putted for the one shot victory.  With the win Mahan becomes the first two time winner on the 2012 PGA Tour. 

Mahan in FJ ICON and StaSof, led the field in greens in regulation hitting nearly 90 percent during the tournament.  The win also moves Mahan to number four on the Official World golf rankings, making him the highest ranked American player heading into the Masters Tournament.  

Luke Donald reclaims world number one ranking

Two weeks ago Luke Donald lost the world number one ranking to Rory McIlroy after holding it for 40 consecutive weeks.  This week, Englishman Luke Donald, wearing custom FJ ICON MyJoys, emerged from a four man playoff to win the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Golf Resort to reclaim the world number one ranking.

Beginning the day three strokes off of the 54-hole lead, Donald shot a flawless bogey free, five under par 66 to tie Robert Garrigus (FJ SPORT) and two other competitors for a sudden death playoff.

Donald, teeing off last in the playoff, narrowly missed his tee shot to the right rough. Hitting his approach shot first, Donald took dead aim striking a mid iron to within five feet of the hole.  His playing competitors could not muster similar brilliance on their approaches and fell outside of Donald.  With all of his playing competitors missing their birdie bids, Donald had the five footer for the win and the world number one ranking.  Luke stroked the putt and watched it curl into the left side of the cup for the victory.

Luke Donald still has his eyes on this seasons first major stating, "I feel like I've achieved a lot in my career but this is perfect preparation. I've got two weeks off now and can look forward to Augusta."

Rory McIlroy also chimed via twitter on the Englishman supplanting him as the top ranked golfer, "Well I enjoyed it while it lasted! Congrats @LukeDonald! Impressive performance!"

Destiny Calling, Rory Ascends to the Top of the Golfing World

Rory McIlroy has long had potential of becoming the top ranked player in the world.  Since his days as a curly headed teenage amateur from Northern Ireland, many have said it is only a matter of time before the young Ulsterman becomes a dominant force in the game.  Praise from his peers has been bountiful, Hunter Mahan, immediately following his win over McIlroy in the WGC Accenture Match Play last week was quick to comment on McIlroy's play of late, " He’s (McIlroy) the best player in the world right now."   

Final round playing partner Harris English, who was two strokes off the lead entering the final round stated, "I’ve definitely watched him play the last couple of years. He’s got a great game and he deserves. I think he’s the best player in the world right now, hands down, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. He’s very impressive." 

McIlroy has not been oblivious to what he can accomplish with a win at the Honda, "I have to try to focus on what I’ve been trying to do all week, which is hit fairways and hit greens and stay in the present, and not think about everything that could happen."

Rory fulfilled all of his promise today by capturing the coveted top spot in the world golf rankings with a win at the Honda Classic. 

Rory, gaming FJ SPORT and Pure Touch Limited, shot rounds of 66, 67, and 66 in the first three rounds to take a two stroke lead into the final day. Opening the day with a routine par, Rory had to scramble for par on the second, holing a 13-footer to remain in the lead.  McIlroy continued to make scrambling pars, on the seventh after short-siding himself in thick rough, Rory showed some real toughness chipping on and holing the 12-footer for par to hold onto his one shot cushion over fellow FJ Staffer, Tom Gillis (DryJoys Tour and SciFlex). 

On the next, McIlroy made his first birdie of the day to increase his lead. After a par on the 9th, McIlroy carried a three stroke lead into the back nine.

After dropping a shot at the 12th, McIlroy bounced back with a birdie at the next to again increase his lead.  McIlroy's short game was sharp, converting difficult up and downs on 14, 15, and 17 to not give any shots back to the field.  On the final hole with a two stroke lead, McIlroy hit a towering tee shot right up the middle of the fairway and hit a smart layup shot, leaving just a short wedge into the green.  From there, Rory wedged his ball right where he was aimed and two putted for the victory and the world number one ranking. 

Following the round Rory commented on his play, "I knew par golf would probably be good enough and that's what I was trying to do, so to shoot one under is very nice and I was able to get the job done. My short game all week has been very good and it's what you need on a tough course like this. You know you are not going to hit every green."

Rory has finished inside the top five in ten of his last eleven starts, two of those top five finishes being victories during his rise to the top.

McIlroy's next start will be the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral, then McIlroy will take a few weeks off to prepare for the Masters.

Mahan Captures the WGC Accenture Match Play

In this week's WGC Accenture Match Play, 64 of the world's best players competed at the rugged Dove Mountain Course in Marana, Arizona.  After four days of competition only four players remained.  All four players choose FJ shoes and gloves to help them compete week in and week out on the worldwide stage. 

With the all FJ final four set, Hunter Mahan (FJ ICON and StaSof) took on Mark Wilson (FJ ICON and SciFlex) in the first match this Sunday.  Hunter Mahan, playing some tremendous golf, took down Wilson 2 & 1 to to be the first competitor in the Championship match.

Rory McIlroy (FJ SPORT and Pure Touch Limited) would take on Lee Westwood (FJ SPORT and Sciflex) in the other semifinal match.  Falling three down through the first four holes, McIlroy responded brilliantly winning four of the next five holes taking a one up lead into the back nine.  Rory did not look back, eventually defeating Westwood 3 & 1.  

In the Championship match and potential Ryder Cup preview, the red hot Hunter Mahan; who led the field in birdies, took on the world number two golfer in Rory McIlroy. Both players showed nerves on the opening hole exchanging bogies.  On the next three holes both players went birdie, birdie, bogey to remain all square. 

Mahan then beat McIlroy on the sixth, seventh, and eighth holes to open a three up lead.  He would add the tenth hole to go four up.  Fighting back, McIlroy won the eleventh with a chip in for eagle.  Keeping the pressure on Mahan, Rory birdied the fourteenth to further wear away the Mahan lead. It would not be enough, as the players would halve the next three holes to give Mahan a 2 & 1 victory over McIlroy.

Mahan, showing some humility, "I got hot there in the middle of the week and was able to ride it out," adding, "He’s (McIlroy) the best player in the world right now, I knew he’d made a charge, and he did.” 

McIlroy also spoke highly of Mahan, " He was solid as ever. He’s a deserving champion.”

This is Hunter's second World Golf Championship win and the victory moves Hunter into the top ten on the official world golf rankings. 

In the consolation match, Wilson defeated Westwood one up to finish third and fourth respectively for the Championship.

Haas - Northern Trust

2011 Fed-Ex cup Champion, Bill Haas claimed his first victory of the 2012 season at Riviera CC, home of the Northern Trust Open. 

Haas, two strokes down at the beginning of the final round, shot a two under par 69 to claim the clubhouse lead.  Haas would then wait for the players chasing him to finish up their final rounds, eventually leading to a three way tie at the top. 

With a three man playoff set, Haas wearing FJ ICON would hit the fairway and narrowly miss the green on his approach.  Haas, no stranger to pressure, calmly chipped his ball to within five feet of the hole and brushed in the par saving putt to extend the playoff. 

Moving onto the short and treacherous driveable par 4 10th, Haas pulled a driver and went for the green only to end up long and left of the 312-yard heavily guarded hole.  Instead of playing his upcoming pitch directly at the tricky pin, Haas played the percentage shot to the middle of the green where he could easily make a par.  Haas then sized up the 43-footer with several feet of break and poured it straight into the center of the cup for birdie.  Both of his playing competitors would fail to convert their birdies making Bill Haas the 2012 Northern Trust Open Champion. 

Fj Apparel on the PGA Tour

With the launch of our new FJ Apparel line we are often asked, "Who is contracted to wear the new FJ apparel on the PGA Tour?" 

The answer is simple, "Steve Stricker."

That of course only tells a part of the story as several players like Jason Dufner, Brendon DeJonge, Jason Bohn, and Kris Blanks among many others choose to wear the apparel. Forgoing a formal contract, these players decidedly wear FJ apparel because they believe the performance benefits beat the competition.

For the full story click here : Players Pay FootJoy the Ultimate Compliment on GolfChannel.com

Kyle Stanley find redemption in Scottsdale

Last Sunday, Kyle Stanley lost a heartbreaking playoff at Torrey Pines, and some wondered if and when he would recover.  As a former Clemson University standout and Hogan award winner, Stanley knew he had all the tools to become a PGA Tour winner. 

This Sunday, he proved his metal coming back from eight shots down at the beginning of the day to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open by one shot over fellow FJ Ambassador Ben Crane.  Stanley, playing in FJ ICON and StaSof, made six birdies and no bogeys on his way to a 65 and the victory.

Playing partner Ben Crane tweeted this post-round about Stanley's win, "As a fan of sports you have to love what @kylestanleygolf did this week. CONGRATS, Kyle you earned this. The whole golf world is proud"

The win moves Stanley to the number one spot on the FedEx Cup leaderboard and earns him exempt status on the PGA Tour through 2014.