You are viewing: February 2012

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.