Congratulations to the lucky winners of the FJ 2008 USA Glove Sweepstakes. The following 14 winners will receive a USA SciFlex prototype gloves worn by the tour pros at this year’s U.S. Open.
Dana Straw : Sammamish, WA
Steven Kennard : Dayton, OH
David Fisher : Lexington, KY
Mitch Martin : College Station, TX
John Sakowicz Jr. : Ukiah, CA
Gary Potter : Tulsa, OK
Andrew Spinneit : Danvers, MA
Scott Buras : Slidell, LA
Bradley Blank : Mansfield, OH
Ivan Amron : Boca Roaton, FL
Larry Acord : New Port Richey
Francis McNaughton : Harrisburg, PA
Philip Strand - Patterson : Plymouth, MN
Dick Rho : Akron, OH
Two weeks away from her 20th birthday, Inbee Park (MyJoys shoes/StaSof glove) closed with a 2-under 71 to become the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open. Park finished at 9-under 283, four shots clear of the field, marking the largest margin of victory at the Women’s Open since 2001. Park was the only player to break par all four days at Interlachen, and became the third player in the last six years to make the U.S. Women’s Open her first LPGA Tour victory.
As the pressure mounted during the final round, many players saw their chances slip away with untimely bogeys on the difficult Interlachen layout. Not Park. She pulled away with crucial putts on three straight holes — two birdies and one par — early on the back nine and added a final birdie for a 2-under 71. She was bogey-free over her final 10 holes and was the only player in the final nine groups to break par.
Inbee wore MyJoys shoes to enjoy the walk to her first victory. Her white/ white DryJoys contained the monogram “INBEE” on both heels. She also held on tight to her U.S. Open trophy with a pearl white StaSof glove.
FootJoy was clear shoe and glove choice of more players at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open.
Meanwhile, on the European Tour, Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal (white Classics Dry Premiere style #50672) captured the French Open for his first PGA European Tour victory, closing with a 4-under 67 to also win by four strokes. Larrazabal, who had to play two qualifying rounds to get into the event, finished at 15-under 269. Quite an accomplishment for the 25-year old Spaniard who five years ago was at this event caddying for his brother.
Being chased by major champions and Ryder Cup veterans, Larrazabal made the difference on the last four holes. After a bogey on the 14th, he sank birdie putts from 10 and 25 feet on the 15th and 16th to increase his lead to five strokes.
FootJoy was the #1 shoe at the French Open with 61% of the players wearing FootJoy shoes.
Justin Hicks (ReelFit style #53843), the co-leader after the first round of the U.S. Open, won the Wayne Gretzky Classic on the first playoff hole for his first Nationwide Tour title. Hicks closed with a 2-under 69 to finish tied for the lead with a 16-under 269 total, then two-putted for par on the first extra hole to seal the victory.
The key moment Sunday came on the 71st hole with Hicks trailing by two shots. With the leader struggling to make bogey on the 184-yard par 3, Hicks drained an improbable downhill 40-footer that broke approximately 10 feet to the right for a birdie and the pivotal swing. Both players made par on the closing par five before heading to the playoff.
UPDATE: Click here for a story in the Detroit Free Press about how Hicks’ life has (or hasn’t) changed since the big victory.
Check out the slideshow below for images from the Georgian Bay Club, located about 90 miles north of Toronto on Georgian Bay which feeds into Lake Huron.
Kenny Perry (SciFlex glove) shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to finish at 19-under 269, one shot better than Woody Austin (SciFlex glove/DryJoys Tech style #53516) and Bubba Watson (SciFlex glove/Classics Dry Premiere style #50672). Perry became only the fifth player to record multiple victories at Warwick Hills. Perry, who won in 2001 at Warwick Hills, has 11 victories on the PGA TOUR, including the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley earlier this month. The victory is especially sweet for Perry as he all but assured himself a Ryder Cup berth, something he has been focused on all year. If he makes the team, the Kentucky-native would represent the U.S. in front of his home fans when the matches commence at Valencia Country Club, just 40 miles from where he was born.
Inclusive of Perry, all six players who finished in the top five and ties wore FootJoy gloves and five of the six wore FootJoy shoes as well.
1. Kenny Perry (-19) - SciFlex glove
T2. Woody Austin (-18) - SciFlex glove/FootJoy shoes
T2. Bubba Watson (-18) - SciFlex glove/FootJoy shoes
T4. Matt Jones (-17) - StaSof glove/Footjoy shoes
T4. Bob Tway (-17) - FootJoy glove/FootJoy shoes
T4. Ken Duke (-17) - FootJoy glove/FootJoy shoes
We’ve updated our “About” section to include images, bios and a “what’s in the bag” for some of the FJ associates you’ve met on the blog. Check it out!
FootJoy has named Billy Burke 2007 Sales Representative of the Year at its national sales meeting in Pinehurst, NC.
“FootJoy Sales Representative of the Year represents far more than just outstanding performance,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President of Sales for FootJoy. “It also recognizes the exceptional caliber of work, the personal commitment to customers and the continual pursuit of excellence. Billy’s continued dedication and leadership have made him an integral part of the success to the FootJoy Brand”
Born and raised in Sydney, OH, Billy graduated from Ohio State University where he played collegiate golf with current PGA Tour player Chris Smith. Billy caddied for “Smitty” for 2 years before joining the Acushnet Comapny in 1997. After a successful run in FootJoy Customer Service, Burke entered the field in 1998 as FJ Associate Sales Representative in Michigan/ Northern Ohio under the tutelage of Jim Buelow. Billy results working with Jim produced the opportunity to move to his own territory based in Pittsburgh, PA in 2000. The Pittsburgh territory is critical to FootJoy’s overall success as it represents some of the country’s finest green grass accounts and is the Headquarters for Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Billy’s performance reflects a widespread company commitment to providing FootJoy’s customers with best in class service and sales support that our entire Sales Team pursues in an effort constantly enhance our valued customer relationships.
Scott Hebert of Traverse City, Mich., mounted a back nine charge to rally from a three-shot deficit and win the 41st PGA Professional National Championship.
The 39-year-old Hebert, a PGA head professional at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Mich., birdied five of his first seven holes of the back nine for a closing 4-under-par 68 and a one-stroke victory in the showcase event for PGA Professionals.
Hebert wore DryJoys Tech style #53502 during his dramatic final round triumph. He was one of more than 180 players (58%) who helped make FootJoy the #1 shoe at the elite event.
Check out this story in the Oakland (MI) Press to hear Scott reflect on this special win and even more special news in his personal life.
Jeff Sluman captured his first Champions Tour event on Sunday at the Bank of America Championship in Concord, MA. Slu closed in dramatic fashion by making birdies on three of the last four holes. He birdied the 15th to break a tie with Loren Roberts, then made putts of more than 30 feet on the 17th and 18th to secure the two-stroke win. Sluman, who joined the senior circuit last September, shot an 8-under 64 and finished at 17-under 199.
Jeff was decked out in FJ products for his inaugural over 50 circuit victory. He dialed in a pair of brown and white ReelFit shoes along with a slick orange and white SciFlex glove on Sunday.
FootJoy was the clear leader in shoe and glove count at this week’s event
Shoe Count : FJ - 71%, nearest competitor 14%
Glove Count : FJ - 39%, nearest competitor 24% (Titleist)
Martin Kaymer became the first German to win the BMW International Open in its 20 year history in a play-off at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, his second victory this year and second of his career.
After three days of superb golf in front of his home fans, Kaymer struggled to the turn in 38 but the 23 year old, now sixth in the Ryder Cup race, steadied himself on the back nine after taking 8 on the 11th hole. He birdied the 13th and then, needing one more birdie on the par five last to force the playoff, was on the green in two and nearly made a 40 foot putt for eagle and the title.
Back they went to the 18th hole and while his competitor was in two bunkers, Kaymer hit a massive drive and an even better six iron approach to seven feet. Kaymer easily two-putted for the win.
Kaymer, the 2007 European Tour Rookie of the Year, dedicated the victory to his seriously ill mother, and his voice cracking with emotion said: “This was for you.”
Kaymer wore a pair of all white Classics Dry Premiere (style #50672) during the final round. He moves up four spots in the Ryder Cup standings with only ten weeks left and now has a great chance of making his debut in September.
In response to the overwhelming number of comments we received, you can enter a sweepstakes this week to win one of a limited number of “USA” SciFlex gloves! These prototype gloves, made exclusively for PGA Tour players at the 2008 U.S. Open, are truly unique products and are a great addition to any collection or a fantastic way to show your style and patriotism this 4th of July.
Team DryJoys member and SciFlex fan Jerry Kelly is notorious for his highly competitive spirit and outward display of emotion on the golf course. Add “man of his word” to that description as well.
After promising Kristina Merkle that he would caddie for her if she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, the 2-time PGA Tour winner fulfilled his obligation earlier this week, making the short drive to Erin Hills Golf Course from his home in Madison, Wis. Kelly donned the caddie bib for Merckle during her final practice round Sunday and first competitive round Monday before heading off to compete at this week’s Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
When asked how many shots Kelly saved her, Merkle responded: “A lot. A hundred. He’s an awesome caddie. He kept me laughing, he kept me calm and focused on the golf course.”
[We received this Tour update last week from our friends on the European Tour...]
A couple of glorious sunny days in Northern France at AA St Omer Golf Club, where we had the opportunity to work with some of the up an coming young talent on the European Tour and European Challenge Tour.
This is one of the few events where we get to see a large number of Challenge Tour players at a European Tour event, so there was plenty of action on the Titleist Tour Support Vehicle this week, with players placing shoe orders, changing spikes and checking glove and shoe sizes to see them through to the end of the season.
Dana Straw : Sammamish, WA
Meanwhile, on the European Tour, Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal (white Classics Dry Premiere 
Kenny Perry (
FootJoy has named Billy Burke 2007 Sales Representative of the Year at its national sales meeting in Pinehurst, NC.
Jeff Sluman captured his first Champions Tour event on Sunday at the Bank of America Championship in Concord, MA. Slu closed in dramatic fashion by making birdies on three of the last four holes. He birdied the 15th to break a tie with Loren Roberts, then made putts of more than 30 feet on the 17th and 18th to secure the two-stroke win. Sluman, who joined the senior circuit last September, shot an 8-under 64 and finished at 17-under 199.
Martin Kaymer became the first German to win the BMW International Open in its 20 year history in a play-off at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, his second victory this year and second of his career.
Team DryJoys member and SciFlex fan Jerry Kelly is notorious for his highly competitive spirit and outward display of emotion on the golf course. Add “man of his word” to that description as well.
