You are viewing: September 2008

Lucky #7 for Lorena

Lorena Ochoa (custom Classics) won the Navistar LPGA Classic on Sunday for her seventh victory of the year and first since May by knocking in a 2-foot par putt on the second hole of a playoff.

Recharged after a month away from the tour, Ochoa made a 5-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eighth and also had a bogey and a birdie in the round that she finished with six straight pars — eight including the playoff. The top-ranked Mexican star closed with a 2-under 70 and finished in a three-way tie after two of her competitors knocked in 25-foot birdie putts at the last to finish at 15-under 273.

On the second playoff hole, Ochoa two-putted from the back fringe, leaving only 2 feet for par. She earned $210,000 for her 24th career LPGA Tour victory to push her season total to $2,591,048. She has won all seven times she has entered the final round with the lead in 2008.

“I had a good feeling that today it was my day and it was going to happen,” Ochoa said. “Sometimes you need to play and just have a good time, and that’s what I did.

Villegas Completes FJ FedEx Sweep with Win in Atlanta

Camilo Villegas (white Classics Dry Premiere style #50666, StaSof glove) made it a clean sweep for FJ players in the FedEx Cup Playoffs as he picked up his second win in a row, firing a final round 4-under 66 that featured six birdies over his final 11 holes, to win THE TOUR Championship in a playoff. He rallied from five shots back to start the day and completed the comeback by making birdie at the 17th hole from 12 feet to tie for the lead, then twice hit beautiful lag putts from outside 45 feet on the par three 18th hole, once in regulation to finish at 7-under 273, then in the playoff to cap off his TOUR season in style. The 26-year-old Columbian also won the BMW Championship in St. Louis three weeks ago.

Villegas, who should move to No. 6 in the world ranking Monday, earned $1.26 million for winning THE TOUR Championship and another $3 million for finishing second in the FedEx Cup Playoffs behind fellow FJ player Vijay Singh. With Singh winning the first two events (The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship) and Camilo winning the final two, FJ players swept the playoff events and finished 1-2 in the final standings. Singh finished a mere 551 points ahead of Villegas and picked up the $10 million firs place prize.

Tour Insider

The European Tour moves to The Belfry this week for the Quinn Insurance British Masters and we’ve got some photos from early in the week. Today is actually “Pink Day” at the event to help raise money for breast cancer awareness so you’ll see some interesting pink items on the players including some Titleist/FJ lids. Also, this is the first event since FJ players received their new SYNR-G shoes and we hope to have photos after the weekend and in the weeks to come as they begin to put them in play. So far, the early feedback has been fantastic!

Click on the image below to launch the slideshow.

Click here to begin the slideshow.:

FJ Product Developer Discusses Inspiration for SYNR-G

We recently exchanged emails about the new SYNR-G shoe with Doug Robinson, VP, Product Design and Development Worldwide for FootJoy.  Check out the chat below and then leave us a comment if you have any follow-up questions you would like answered.

Q. Explain your position with FootJoy.

DR: I am currently the VP Product Design and Development Worldwide. My primary role at FJ is leading a team of talented design and development professionals through the creative process as we engineer new golf shoes. Our team starts with a blank canvas and a simple mission . . . “to create golf shoes that enhance individual performance and enjoyment of the game.”

Q. What was your role in the development of SYNR-G?

DR: First and foremost it was defining what the goals were for the SYNR-G project. After defining the product parameters, the whole Design & Development Team embraced the challenge of creating the most stable golf shoe ever made. The key to success was staying focused on the goals and the end-user experience. Each design decision, technology and component had to complement the final desired outcome.

Q. What was the inspiration behind SYNR-G?

DR: The initial project started as a study in stability. How do we build the most stable golf shoe ever made? We took cues from our Classics and the great hitting platform provided by a Goodyear welt construction. We were also inspired by technologies outside of golf, particularly bedding. Slow recovery memory foams, like those used in Tempur-Pedic® beds, looked to be a great way to hold the foot while maintaining awesome comfort inside the shoe.

Q. Explain the importance of stability in the golf swing and how SYNR-G is able to improve stability.

DR: The golfer’s connection to the ground is the foundation for transferring energy from the swing to the ball. The golf shoe plays an important role in keeping the foot connected to the ground while allowing it to move naturally and athletically during the swing. SYNR-G has a number of technologies that combine to provide the greatest stability that we have yet quantified in the lab, and we tested a lot of shoes. The G-Force Outsole™ provides a wider base of tri-density TPU with flaired lateral heel for great stability. The Tri-Lateral Stability Frame™ and Perforated Alloy Stability Bridge™ maintain motion control during the swing and provide a firm platform to initiate the downswing. The Memory foam collar and tongue in combination with the HeelLoc™ feature on the footbed keep the foot from moving excessively in the shoe.

Q. What is the significance of the name SYNR-G?

DR: Synergy defined is:  a situation where the final outcome of a system is greater than the sum of its parts. SYNR-G shoes have a lot great technology that combine for greater stability than the individual components could provide alone. Hey, the name fits . . . and it sounds cool too.

Q. What type of golfer will benefit most from SYNR-G?

DR: Better players or those who generate high swing speeds, but really all golfers can benefit from the stability found in SYNR-G shoes.

Q. What has been some of the early feedback from players who have tested the shoes?

DR: We had some of the heavy hitters on the Pinnacle Distance Team test the shoes with great results. That’s about the toughest test we could imagine as the swing speeds for these guys are routinely in the 130 mph range. They go at the ball really hard and the SYNR-Gs provided a solid platform for launching those monstrous drives. The guys were really impressed with the performance of the new shoes and they loved the styles.

Q. Where does SYNR-G fit in the FootJoy “family” of golf shoes?

DR: SYNR-G is our premiere cement lasted product. It is priced above DryJoys, but below our Classics made in Brockton, MA.

FJ Product Developer Discusses Inspiration for SYNR-G

We recently exchanged emails about the new SYNR-G shoe with Doug Robinson, VP, Product Design and Development Worldwide for FootJoy.  Check out the chat below and then leave us a comment if you have any follow-up questions you would like answered.

Q. Explain your position with FootJoy.

DR: I am currently the VP Product Design and Development Worldwide. My primary role at FJ is leading a team of talented design and development professionals through the creative process as we engineer new golf shoes. Our team starts with a blank canvas and a simple mission . . . “to create golf shoes that enhance individual performance and enjoyment of the game.”

Q. What was your role in the development of SYNR-G?

DR: First and foremost it was defining what the goals were for the SYNR-G project. After defining the product parameters, the whole Design & Development Team embraced the challenge of creating the most stable golf shoe ever made. The key to success was staying focused on the goals and the end-user experience. Each design decision, technology and component had to complement the final desired outcome.

Q. What was the inspiration behind SYNR-G?

DR: The initial project started as a study in stability. How do we build the most stable golf shoe ever made? We took cues from our Classics and the great hitting platform provided by a Goodyear welt construction. We were also inspired by technologies outside of golf, particularly bedding. Slow recovery memory foams, like those used in Tempur-Pedic® beds, looked to be a great way to hold the foot while maintaining awesome comfort inside the shoe.

Q. Explain the importance of stability in the golf swing and how SYNR-G is able to improve stability.

DR: The golfer’s connection to the ground is the foundation for transferring energy from the swing to the ball. The golf shoe plays an important role in keeping the foot connected to the ground while allowing it to move naturally and athletically during the swing. SYNR-G has a number of technologies that combine to provide the greatest stability that we have yet quantified in the lab, and we tested a lot of shoes. The G-Force Outsole™ provides a wider base of tri-density TPU with flaired lateral heel for great stability. The Tri-Lateral Stability Frame™ and Perforated Alloy Stability Bridge™ maintain motion control during the swing and provide a firm platform to initiate the downswing. The Memory foam collar and tongue in combination with the HeelLoc™ feature on the footbed keep the foot from moving excessively in the shoe.

Q. What is the significance of the name SYNR-G?

DR: Synergy defined is:  a situation where the final outcome of a system is greater than the sum of its parts. SYNR-G shoes have a lot great technology that combine for greater stability than the individual components could provide alone. Hey, the name fits . . . and it sounds cool too.

Q. What type of golfer will benefit most from SYNR-G?

DR: Better players or those who generate high swing speeds, but really all golfers can benefit from the stability found in SYNR-G shoes.

Q. What has been some of the early feedback from players who have tested the shoes?

DR: We had some of the heavy hitters on the Pinnacle Distance Team test the shoes with great results. That’s about the toughest test we could imagine as the swing speeds for these guys are routinely in the 130 mph range. They go at the ball really hard and the SYNR-Gs provided a solid platform for launching those monstrous drives. The guys were really impressed with the performance of the new shoes and they loved the styles.

Q. Where does SYNR-G fit in the FootJoy “family” of golf shoes?

DR: SYNR-G is our premiere cement lasted product. It is priced above DryJoys, but below our Classics made in Brockton, MA.

View & Watch TV Commercial Results

FootJoy View and Watch TV commercial SuperLites Contest Results!

FootJoy recently introduced a new category of shoes called FJ SuperLites which we're proud to say is our lightest shoe ever! Now we're giving you the chance to win a pair of your own so you can experience the perfect combination of lightweight comfort, traction and durability for yourself.

Click here to see the NEW FJ Superlites golf shoes.

We are delighted to have received over-whelming response to the SuperLites contest, here are the 50 winners each from Malaysia and Singapore. All winners will be notified by post by early October 2008 regarding the collection of their prize.  

Malaysia Results

Singapore Results

SuperLlites Contest Results Malaysia

FootJoy View and Watch TV commercial SuperLites Contest Results!

FootJoy recently introduced a new category of shoes called FJ SuperLites which we're proud to say is our lightest shoe ever! Now we're giving you the chance to win a pair of your own so you can experience the perfect combination of lightweight comfort, traction and durability for yourself.

Click here to see the NEW FJ Superlites golf shoes.

We are delighted to have received over-whelming response to the SuperLites contest, here are the 50 winners from Malaysia. All winners will be notified by post by early October 2008 regarding the collection of their prize.  

SuperLlites Contest Results Singapore

FootJoy View and Watch TV commercial SuperLites Contest Results!

FootJoy recently introduced a new category of shoes called FJ SuperLites which we're proud to say is our lightest shoe ever! Now we're giving you the chance to win a pair of your own so you can experience the perfect combination of lightweight comfort, traction and durability for yourself.

Click here to see the NEW FJ Superlites golf shoes.

We are delighted to have received over-whelming response to the SuperLites contest, here are the 50 winners from Singapore. All winners will be notified by post by early October 2008 regarding the collection of their prize.  

Team FJ Propels Americans Over Europeans at Ryder Cup

Team USA, featuring FootJoy players, and Ryder Cup rookies, Ben Curtis, Boo Weekley, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and JB Holmes outdueled the European team in Sunday’s Singles to win the Ryder Cup for the first time in nine years. The final tally was 16.5 - 11.5, the Americans’ largest margin of victory since 1981.

The European Team, seeking it’s fourth consecutive Cup and threatening to make this competition irrelevant with another dominating performance, included FJ players Soren Hansen, Graeme McDowell, Robert Karlsson, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood.

The rookies were the story of this competition, especially under the intense pressure Sunday afternoon, as JB Holmes (2&1), Boo Weekley (4&2) and Ben Curtis (2&1) grabbed huge points in the singles matches while Mahan grabbed an important half point in a duel that came down to the 18th hole. JB and Boo were crowd-favorites and point producers throughout the week with both posting records of 2-0-1 in the chase for the elusive Ryder Cup. Hunter Mahan was also strong with a 2-0-3 record. Not bad for the three first-timers.

On the European side, Ian Poulter was the star of this year’s matches with a final record of 4-1-0.

Visit the official Ryder Cup site for more.

First Look at SYNR-G from FootJoy

Click on the image below to see photos from our factory where some of the initial SYNR-G shoes are coming off the line! The buzz is really building around these so keep an eye out for players starting to wear them…specifically players who really launch the ball! And be sure to visit the new SYNR-G microsite where you can see video of players talking about the importance of stability in the golf swing and enter to win your own pair of SYNR-G (and a top-of-the-line SkyCaddie SG5 Range Finder) before they hit store shelves in January.

Click here to begin the slideshow.:

US Clings to Lead Heading into Sunday Singles

The United States Ryder Cup team continues to hold a slim 2 point lead (9-7) over the Europeans after a wild Saturday in Kentucky. The U.S. captain found some magic in two all-FootJoy pairings that battled two of Europe’s strongest teams and fired up the already-raucous crowd with some stellar golf in the afternoon fourball. Boo Weekley (white ReelFit, SciFlex glove) and J.B. Holmes (brown DryJoys Traditional, RainGrip glove) had the gallery behind them as they battled back-and-forth with fellow FootJoy players Lee Westwood (white Classics Dry Premiere) and Soren Hansen (white Classics) en route to a 2&1 upset victory. Also scoring a win for the U.S. team with a halve was the duo of Steve Stricker (custom brown ReelFit, StaSof glove) and Ben Curtis (brown MyJoys with American flag logo, StaSof glove). Talk about a nailbiter, this match featured only two lead changes, on the 2nd hole when Curtis sank an 8-footer for the lead and the 10th hole when the Europeans squared the match. All the remaining holes were halved, as was the match after the teams both made clutch birdies on the 18th green. The U.S. team now needs 5.5 points in tomorrow’s 12 Singles matches to capture the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999 while the Europeans need seven to win the Cup for the fourth consecutive time.

Westwood Leads by Example at Ryder Cup

One of the reasons Europe has won the last three, and five of the last six, Ryder Cup matches is 35-year-old Englishman Lee Westwood. About to compete in his sixth Ryder Cup, Westwood is quietly dominant, having amassed 15.5 points in his career which is the most of any player who will tee it up on both teams this year. He’s competed in 25 matches, overall, and, with rookies playing a huge part on both squads, Westwood’s experience could go a long way towards victory. Something to watch as the matches get underway tomorrow morning. Westwood is almost exclusively a Classics guy and, so far this week, has been wearing these all white traditional Classics Dry Premiere, as well as this new “wave” pattern which has been very popular.

Click here for a great story on Westwood from Jim McCabe at the Boston Globe.

How Swede It Is!

“The Big Swede,” Robert Karlsson, gave himself and the European team the perfect boost ahead of this week’s Ryder Cup by claiming his first victory in two years at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Karlsson began the final day with a three stroke lead and carded a closing 1-under 71 at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof in Germany for a two shot victory. Karlsson now moves into second place on the European Tour Order of Merit.

For Karlsson, who wore Classics Dry Premiere and a StaSof glove, it was the first victory since he won the 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship, also in Germany, and it was a victory richly deserved after he qualified for his second Ryder Cup on the strength of nine top ten finishes this season - including eighth in the Masters, fourth in the US Open and seventh in The Open Championship.

“It’s very nice to win, a great relief and it would have felt a bit strange not to win this season because I’ve been playing so well,” he added.

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Numero Uno for Villegas

Adding Some FJ to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team

The final pieces to the United States Ryder Cup team puzzle were added yesterday when the captain’s picks were announced, and FootJoy will be well represented among the three rookies who were chosen. JB Holmes, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan will all make their Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla when the matches commence in two weeks and they’ll be carrying the FJ banner when they tee it up against the Europeans. JB, who will be a fan favorite among the crowds in his native Kentucky, has become a DryJoys Tech ambassador, wearing them almost exclusively now, and actually just ordered some MyJoys so keep an eye out for some unique creations. It’s also well known that he wears a RainGrip glove going back to his days playing high school golf and battling the humidity during the summer months. Steve Stricker, a veteran of two Presidents Cup teams (1996, 2007), wears a StaSof glove and loves his all white DryJoys Traditional (MyJoys) and all white ReelFits. Hunter Mahan, who is known for wearing some flashy Classics as well as a StaSof glove, was on the 2007 Presidents Cup team with Stricker so brings some international match play experience to the team.

Steve Stricker: “Very excited to be getting that call last night,” Stricker said. “I was on the other end of a couple calls throughout my career; and to get that one, that’s why I asked Paul right away if this was a good call for a bad call. I needed to know, and obviously it was a good call.”

Hunter Mahan: “I’ve got the best feelings in the world right now,” Mahan said. “I’m on the Ryder Cup team and there’s nothing more to say than that, and I wish it started tomorrow. I think we are all pretty excited about it, and very much looking forward to it and excited about having it in the States and having so much fan support, so it’s going to be a great event.”

The Ryder Cup begins in September 16 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Havret Storms to Victory

Gregory Havret led from start to finish to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. The FootJoy wearer held his nerve on the final hole of his final round, sinking a clutch eight foot par putt to secure victory by one shot. The dramatic win earned Havret his third European Tour title.

The Frenchman elected for the style and comfort of a pair of all black FootJoy Classics.