FJ Blog

English Breaks Through in Memphis

As a shining sophomore on the PGA Tour, many peers and fans felt it only a matter of time before 23-year-old Harris English won on the PGA Tour.  English met their expectations on Sunday by winning the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Beginning the final day one stroke behind the leader, Harris struggled through the front nine, posting a 2 over par total.  The former University of Georgia standout fought back with two early back nine birdies to reach level par for the day.  Harris, then, added birdies at 16 and 17 to close out his back nine 32 and win by two strokes over fellow FJ staffer Scott Stallings (FJ ICON and Pure Touch Limited).

English relied on DryJoys Tour and Pure Touch Limited during his championship winning round. 

This is Harris English's first PGA Tour win, which also earned the Georgia native an invitation to next year's Masters® Tournament.

Fed Ex St.Jude Classic Shoe Count

FJ - 60%

Nearest Competitor - 20%

Fed Ex St.Jude Classic Glove Count

FJ - 42%

Nearest Competitor - 20%

Ilonen Cruises in Sweden

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.

Shoe Count:
FJ - 63%
Nearest Comp - 20%

Glove Count:
FJ - 48%
Nearest Comp - 19%

Uihlein Breaks Through in Portugal

Former Oklahoma State standout and US Amateur Champion, Peter Uihlein shot a final round of 68 to capture his first professional career victory at the Madeira Islands Open in Santo Da Serra, Portugal. Beginning the day one stroke behind leader Mark Tullo, Ulhlein opened with a bogey falling further behind.  However, Uihlein fought back to even par for the front nine and continued to make four birdies in his final eight holes to reach 15 under par.  The total gave him a two stroke victory over fellow FJ Staffers, Morten Orum Madsen and Mark Tullo.

Uihlein was ready for any conditions the seaside golf course could conjure in full line FJ Performance Apparel, DryJoys Tour golf shoes and the StaSof golf glove.

Uihlein stated post round, "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."

Peter also spoke of his decision to join the European Tour instead of testing his game on the American circuit, "You grow up quick out here and that was the main reason I came over...It's been a good process so far and hopefully I can keep going."

This is Peter's third top ten in seven European Tour starts this season. The win also gives Uihlein European Tour Status through the 2014 season.

Madeira Islands Open SHOE COUNT:
FJ - 66%
Nearest Comp - 18%

Adam Scott - Masterful at Augusta National

Coming off major heartbreak at last year's Open Championship, Adam Scott knows what major pressure feels like on Sunday of a major championship.  With that experience in his rear view, Adam Scott put on a performance for the ages winning the 2013 Masters in a playoff over Angel Cabrera.

Adam Scott began the day one stroke behind the leaders, at six under par.  Opening his final round with a bogey, Adam quickly gained the stroke back with a long left-to-right birdie putt at the third to climb into contention.  Parring out on the front, left Scott three strokes behind then leader Cabrera.  

With ground to make up, Adam narrowly missed the hazard on the heavily protected par five 13th green.  A chip and a short putt gave Adam birdie, closing the gap on the leaders.  Scott struck again hitting the par five 15th green in two shots and two putting for a birdie, which put him putting in a tie for first place.

After just missing birdie bids on 16 and 17, Scott had a downhill 20 foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of regulation.  After much deliberation with his caddy, Scott stood over the putt and brushed it in the low side of the hole, exploding in emotion as it rattled around the bottom of the cup to reach nine under par.

Not to be outdone, grizzly veteran and two-time major champion, Angel Cabrera knew a birdie was needed to have any hope of another green jacket.  Splitting the fairway, Cabrera then stuck his approach shot to a mere putters' length.  Cabrera converted the birdie bid forcing the playoff with Scott.  

On the first hole of the sudden death playoff, both players launched drives right up the center of the narrow, punishing fairway.  Hitting their approach shots, both players hit the green only to spin off one of the steep Augusta National false front's.  Cabrera was outside of Scott and missed his birdie chip by inches.  Splitting pars, Scott and Cabrera headed to the 10th where Bubba's famous hooked gap wedge occurred the previous year.  

Hitting the ski sloped fairway in regulation,  both players hit brilliant shots into the green leaving makeable birdie putts for the win.  Cabrera putted first, facing a slippery right-to-left slider, and missed ever so slightly on the high side giving Adam a putt for the win.  Taking his time to find the perfect read Scott stood over his putt drained it to become a Master's Champion.

This is Adam's first Major Championship and first Master's Championship for an Australian born player.

"All of the power is coming from the ground and my connection to the ground is through my shoe, so I believe I need to be in control and connected to the ground throughout my golf swing and I believe the FJ Sport can do that for me." said Adam Scott on why he chooses FJ Sport. Continuing, "All the feel in this game comes through your hands and I choose StaSof because it gives me the feel I am looking for in a golf glove." 

D.A. Points Takes Home the Shell Houston Open

D.A. Points came back from a nearly three hour rain delay to win the Shell Houston Open by one stroke over Henrik Stenson and Billy Horschel.

Beginning the day one back, Points made six birdies in the first 14 holes, racing to a one stroke lead before play ceased.  With a two year PGA Tour exemption and a Masters invitation on the line, D.A. made clutch pars on the final four holes including up and downs on the final two to post the clubhouse lead at 16 under.  No one could catch the total, which gave D.A. his second PGA tour victory.

Points trusted his XPS-1 golf shoes and FJ Sciflex glove en route to his win, "The XPS-1 gives me the comfort and stability I need to play my best golf."  Continuing, "The SciFlex fits my hand and is breathable for the hot conditions we always play in."

Seven different FJ styles graced the top 25 of the Shell Houston Open. D.A. opted for max stability of the XPS-1, second place finisher Billy Horschel went for fashion forward performance in FJ Icon MyJoys.  Other players in the top 25, Ben Crane in Contour, Oothuizen in DryJoys Tour, Bill Haas in FJ Sport, Westwood in FJ Icon, and Wheatcroft in the M:Project.  FJ truly has a shoe for every golfer and every swing.

Shell Houston Open Shoe Count

FJ - 64%

Nearest competitor - 18%

Another Multiple Win Weekend for FJ!

Kevin Streelman (in FJ ICON and SciFlex) tamed the daunting Innisbrook Copperheard course to claim his first PGA Tour title in his 153rd PGA Tour start.  Entering the weekend at even par, Streelman played his next 36 holes at 10 under, not dropping a single shot over the stretch.  The ten under total was good enough to take home a two stroke victory.

"I just stayed really patient and had a peace about me today...It’s such a tough golf course where you’ve got to pick your battles.” said Streelman of his controlled round.

The win earns Streelman an invitation to this years' Masters Tournament.

Tampa Bay Championship Shoe Count:

FJ - 63%

Nearest Competitor - 21%

On the European Tour, Thomas Aiken won the Avantha Masters with a final round 67 to win by three strokes.  Aiken, in FJ ICON MyJoys, shot all four rounds in the 60's, including a blistering ten under par 62 on Saturday to race to the top of the leaderboard.  Aiken carded twenty-one birdies and two eagles versus only two bogeys over the 72 holes of tournament play.   

“I’ve been playing very nicely the last four months, not making a lot of mistakes, but just not sinking enough putts,” said Aiken, continuing, “This week a few went in, I hit some better iron shots which gave me a better chance to sink some putts, and I played some phenomenal golf.”

This is Aiken's second European Tour Victory; the win also moves Aiken into the top 100 on the official world golf rankings.

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Stacy Lewis has captured the world number one position with a win at the RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup.  Entering the final round four behind, Lewis in FJ Sport BOA and StaSof,  biridied nine of the final 18 holes to run away with a three shot victory.

Lewis's 23 under par total set a tournament record.

This is Stacy's seventh LPGA Tour victory and second of 2013.

Three Weekend Wins for FJ!

Michael Thompson survived the brutal weekend conditions at PGA National to claim the Honda Classic by two strokes over former U.S. Open Champion, Geoff Ogilvy. 

Already eight under at the halfway point of the tournament, Thompson looked to be the man to beat over the weekend.  Playing at the top of the leaderboard, Thompson carded 4 bogeys and 4 birdies en route to his Saturday even par, 70 tally.  The eight under total was good enough to earn Thompson a share of the 54 hole lead with fellow FJ staffer Luke Guthrie. 

Playing in the final group for the second straight day, Thompson struck early with an eagle at the par 5 third hole to reach ten under par. Thompson dropped a shot at the next, but answered with a birdie on the following hole.  Thompson, in FJ ICON and StaSof, managed to grind out a one under front nine, leaving him at 9 under for the championship. 

Continuing his conservative play, Thompson made six straight pars before three putting for bogey at 16 -- a hole Oglivy birdied to get within two of Thompson.  Ogilvy birdied 17, as well, to get within one of the Alabama grad, Thompson.  Staying poised, Thompson rattled off a birdie on the last to shut the door on his competitors for his first PGA Tour victory.

Honda Classic Shoe Count

FJ - 58%

Closest Competitor - 20%

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On the LPGA Tour, 2012 Player of the Year Stacy Lewis continued her world beating play by winning the HSBC Women's Championship in Singapore.  Tied for the lead at the start of the day, Lewis grinded through the first six holes at even par.  She then launched a drive at the par five seventh hole leaving her only 200 yards to the stick.  in FJ Sport BOA and StaSof, she hit what she considered one the best shots of her career nearly jarring the shot for albatross, she settled for the eagle and control of the tournament.  Lewis added another birdie at the ninth to remain at the top of the leaderboard. 

Playing with the lead is difficult even for a Player of the Year, "The last four or five holes, I was pretty nervous, I'm not going to lie," Lewis said post round of playing with the lead.  Despite late bogeys, she would hold on for a one shot victory.  The victory is her sixth on the LPGA Tour.

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On the Web.com Tour, former college phenom Patrick Cantlay set the scoring record at the Colombia Championship by seven shots.  Cantly's 18 under par total was good enough for a four stroke victory.  “It feels really good to win. I felt in control all day," said the former UCLA Bruin, "This sets the year off on the right foot. Even though I’m one of the youngest guys out here, I feel really comfortable out here.”

The win moves Cantlay to the top of the Web.com money list.

Colombia Championship Shoe Count

FJ - 67%

Nearest Competitor - 18%

Chris Wood Closes in Style in Qatar

Many remember Chris Wood for his T5 performance in the 2008 British Open as an amateur and instant success seemed imminent for the Englishman for placing so high on one of golf's grandest stages.  Fast forward to the 2013 Qatar Masters, where Chris Wood capitalized on all of his potential by claiming the championship with a final round 69 to win by one. 

Beginning the day with a three stroke lead, Wood showed some early jitters with a double on the 223 yard third hole.   He fought back to even par for his round with two late birdies on the front nine.  Wood's play steadied on the back nine making seven pars and one birdie through the first eight holes.  One stroke back on the final hole Wood, in FJ SPORT Spikeless, unleashed a bomb right down the middle of the fairway leaving him a six iron into the the par five.  With great precision Wood played the six iron to 10 feet of the hole.  Two putts for a playoff and one putt for the win, Wood curled the putt right into the heart of the hole for eagle, fist pumping his way to his first European Tour victory.

"There’s an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders today, I feel like I can go on and win more."  Continuing, still elated from the closing eagle, "I knew it was going to be hard no matter how I played - winning on The European Tour is not easy. I've been knocking on the door in previous times and it's not happened. To get it today, to get my first win, it's such an honor. I'm so pleased.”

This is Wood's first European Tour victory in his 116th European Tour event.  The win will also move Wood into the sixties on the Official World Golf Rankings, potentially earning him a spot in the Accenture Match Play.  Chris Wood is also the first FJ player to win in one of our spikeless models.

Donaldson Wins in Abu Dhabi

Welshman Jamie Donaldson carded a final round 68 to take home the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by a single stroke.  Donaldson, in FJ ICON and StaSof, posted a smooth 34 on the front nine that included two bookend birdies and seven pars.  His unflappable play continued for the first eight holes on the backside until a three putt bogey on the last gave his chasers some hope.  They failed to capitalize on their opportunity, giving Donaldson the win.

“It’s pretty surreal really, I’ve played really good all week although I’ve got away with murder up the last" Donaldson stated post round.  Continuing "I played the pro-am on Wednesday and thought the course was too difficult and I had no chance,I thought if I could get a decent finish I would be chuffed...To be holding this trophy is just mad." 

This is Donaldson's second European Tour victory, his first coming in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush the previous year.  The win also moves Donaldson inside the top 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings

Sneak Peek - Spring 2013 FJ Apparel Collections