FootJoy has unveiled its new HYPERFLEX line, delivering lightweight support and cushioning for improved comfort and performance.

The HYPERFLEX golf shoe features the innovative FlexGrid™ exoskeleton to provide all the comfort of running and athletic shoes, while also delivering the support, stability and waterproof characteristics required by golfers.

The distinctive FlexGrid upper of the shoe was inspired by the structure of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker hill Bridge in Boston.

The FlexGrid exoskeleton is designed to be strong enough to keep the wearer’s foot from rolling laterally mid-swing, while also allowing for flexibility. The soft, lightweight mesh which forms the base layer of the exoskeleton provides added comfort, breathability and airflow.

Doug Robinson, FootJoy Vice President of Design and Development Worldwide noted that, “our designers have carried out research in civil engineering and construction to create the distinguishing aesthetics of HYPERFLEX which are also fundamental to its performance.”

“I’ve been a big fan of the HYPERFLEX ever since I put them on before the Ryder Cup,” commented PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan. “The comfort I get when I’m on the golf course all day combined with the stability as I swing the club is fantastic. I really enjoy wearing this shoe and also really like the progressive, edgy styling of it.”

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• FlexGrid™ 2.0 exoskeleton upper – The high-performance upper material defines the aesthetics of HYPERFLEX but also has a highly functional purpose. The soft and comfortable material helps to control the foot during the swing and retain its shape over time. Incorporates a breathable membrane that is guaranteed waterproof for two years.

• FineTunedFoam™ 2.0 – The inclusion of FTF 2.0 provides the exceptional comfort of HYPERFLEX. The next-generation midsole, constructed of a softer and lighter EVA blend, delivers supercharged cushioning.

• O.P.S. ™ – Visible at the rear of the shoe, the Optimized Performance Stabilizer provides support and motion control towards the heel.

• N.E.O.™ – Next Evolutionary Outsole, equipped with ‘Tornado’ Cleats by SoftSpikes, has been specifically engineered with thin TPU that provides flexible-yet-durable underfoot traction elements that utilize the Fast-Twist® insert system.

HYPERFLEX will be available 2/15/15 in four laced styles:

• Navy/electric green
• White/grey/blue
• Black
• Grey/orange
• Green/lime green (available 3/15; quantities limited)

In addition, three styles will be available 4/15/15 with the premium Boa Lacing System:

• White/grey/blue
• Grey/orange
• Black/Red

ADELAIDE, Australia – Team Canada had a difficult time in Astor Trophy competition once again on Thursday, falling to South Africa5-2 at The Grange Golf Club.

Canada fell in both of the morning foursome matches, 4&2 and 2&1. With the losses, Canada remains winless in the category and is still yet to win a match.

The Canadian contingent’s uphill battle continued in the afternoon’s single matches, losing two, halving two and winning the other thanks to Victoria, B.C. native, Naomi Ko.

Ko, 17, has been a bright spot for the Canadian quintet, winning all three of her individual matches thus far.

All of the attention went to the host Australians on Thursday, who recorded a convincing 5.5-1.5 win over the leading team from Great Britain & Ireland—making for an interesting final.

With a bye in tomorrow’s final, GB&I is on-the-ropes against the Aussies, who look to complete the comeback and remain undefeated in the tournament. A win, or anything up to a 5-2 loss will ensure a win for Australia—their fifth title in the 56-year history.

Meanwhile, Canada will look to muster up a win in tomorrow’s final round against New Zealand, beginning at 8am (Adelaide time).

Click here for scoring

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic has been confirmed as the host venue for the 2016 Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC), organizers announced during the inaugural staging of the championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The LAAC, which is being played at Pilar Golf this week, is scheduled for January 14-17 next year.

Founded by the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), the LAAC was established to further develop amateur golf in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Each year, the LAAC champion will receive an invitation to compete in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. In addition, the winner and the runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for The Open and U.S. Open Championship. Finally, the champion will receive full exemptions into The Amateur Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible.

The 2016 LAAC will bring the region’s best players to one of the region’s most highly regarded venues. Designed by Pete Dye and built in the early 1970s, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo features seven holes along the Atlantic Ocean and is routinely ranked as one of the best courses throughout all of Latin America.

“It is a great honor for us to have been selected to host this prestigious championship,” said Rafael Torres, President of Casa de Campo. “We are fortunate that the selection committee has seen fit to bring the LAAC to what we believe is the finest golf resort in this region.

“The event will be played at the legendary Teeth of The Dog, the masterpiece of golf course architect Pete Dye. The employees and the residents of Casa de Campo will be proud to be a part of Latin America’s premier amateur golf competition.”

Casa de Campo was named the number-one golf resort in the world by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) for its collection of golf courses, professional facilities, luxury amenities, as well as its executive team’s commitment to service and exceeding guest expectations.

This week’s LAAC features 109 players from the 28 countries throughout Latin America. Television coverage includes two hours of live broadcast on each of the four days being aired in more than 150 countries.

Entry into Pilar Golf for the 2016 Latin America Amateur Championship is free.

The LAAC follows a model established by the Masters and The R&A when, in 2009, the organizations created the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) to advance the sport in that part of the world and to create heroes other aspiring golfers could emulate. The event in the Asia-Pacific has been an astonishing success with the likes of Hideki Matsuyama and Tianlang Guan winning the championship and going on to make an impact in the Masters Tournament and on the PGA Tour. Australia’s Antonio Murdaca won the 2014 championship at Royal Melbourne and will have an opportunity to make his mark this year.

For more information about the LAAC, including latest news, schedule, spectator information and a roster of players competing, please visit the event’s website at www.LAACgolf.com.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Martin Kaymer rekindled his fondness for the Abu Dhabi Championship by rolling in 10 birdies to shoot an 8-under 64 in the first round on Thursday, giving the German a one-stroke lead in an event he has won three times.

Living up to his tag of the “King of Abu Dhabi,” Kaymer showed the form on the greens that brought him titles in the desert in 2008, ’10 and ’11, and looked energized after time away from golf over Christmas.

“I putted very well,” Kaymer said. “Ten birdies? I’m not sure I have done that in my golf career.”

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy and American star Rickie Fowler were also playing their first tournaments of 2015, and fed off each other’s brilliant putting on their back nines to shoot 67s.

McIlroy’s round was revived by a superb, improvised wedge shot from the lip of a fairway bunker on his 12th hole, setting up the first of five birdies in his last seven holes.

“I was just trying to get it on the green,” McIlroy said about his impudent 95-yard shot from an awkward stance that revived memories of the late Seve Ballesteros. “From looking like going 1 over to finishing 5 under, I’m very happy.”

Unheralded Belgian Thomas Pieters shot a 65 to lie alone in second place, with five players – Branden Grace, Gregory Bourdy, first-year tour player Tyrrell Hatton, Alexander Levy and Mikko Ilonen – tied for third on 6 under.

Kaymer ripped up his usual festive routine – which can involve hitting some balls on Christmas Day at his base in Arizona – and spent time at home in Germany and on the ski slopes of Italy, where he enjoyed learning a new sport.

“Life is not all about golf,” Kaymer said. “It was nice to find a hobby that is challenging for me.”

He won’t be giving up the day job, though.

Kaymer lost form after winning the Players Championship and the U.S. Open midway through last year, but was back to his best on what he calls his “home course” in making four birdies on the front nine and six coming in. Three birdies were from more than 18 feet.

With a second place and a sixth place to go with his three titles at the Abu Dhabi Golf Course, Kaymer is the man to beat this week – even with McIlroy around.

The only swings McIlroy made over the month either side of Christmas were practice ones in his kitchen at home. The break didn’t do him any harm, either.

His first shot of 2015 was a 315-yard drive down the middle of the par-5 10th fairway and he birdied the hole for the perfect start to his attempt to win this tournament for the first time, after three runner-up finishes since 2011.

McIlroy’s short game made up for some errant drives for the rest of his front nine but the spectacular shot on No. 3 proved to be a catalyst. With one foot in the face of a bunker and the other out of the hazard, he had to open the face of his wedge and dig out a shot that landed 12 feet away. It brought the biggest cheer of the day from a sparse crowd at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“It’s not a shot I practice a lot,” said McIlroy, who holed from 15 feet on No. 4, 10 feet on Nos. 5 and 7 and eight feet on No. 8 for birdies that allowed him to chase down Fowler.

The American, who lost out to McIlroy in the British Open and U.S. PGA Championship last year, upstaged his rival by making six birdies in 11 holes starting at No. 15 – his sixth hole. However, Fowler sent his approach at the last through the green, misjudged a flop shot on the way back and missed a 10-foot par putt to slip back level with McIlroy.

Second-ranked Henrik Stenson had a double-bogey on his first hole and didn’t make any birdies in a 76. Justin Rose shot 73.

It’s early January — a time when avid Canadian golfers are imagining a smooth new swing that will finally make this year the one that pulls it all together. But are kids thinking about golf? Do they share that same passion for the perfect swing?

For a junior golfer, the answer is likely no. As far as Golf Canada is concerned — that’s not a problem.

As the governing body of the sport in this country, Golf Canada’s focus towards junior golf stems from participation numbers. Priority lies with introducing the sport to Canadian youth who otherwise may not receive the opportunity to experience the game at a young age. In the end, what’s most important is the well-being of the child.

Across the country, golf’s industry leaders are doing their best to ensure that golf is an available option in promoting children’s health and fitness.

Beginning at the top of the chain, the National Golf Course Owner’s Association (NGCOA) is offering the Take a Kid to the Course Week once again in 2015. This nation-wide initiative offers free golf and sometimes more to children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by a paying adult. This year’s week will run from July 6–12. More details are available on the website.

At the grassroots level, Golf in Schools brings an educational curriculum to 300,000 students annually. The program — offered to both elementary and high schools — is delivered by teachers through the teaching guide and is endorsed by Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada. Those interested in getting Golf in Schools in their community can learn more here.

The delivery of programming by PGA of Canada professionals remains at the forefront of junior golf. With the help of Canada’s junior golf program, CN Future Links, instructors invest in teaching the fundamentals and values of golf through a variety of formats:

• CN Future Links Learn to Play
• CN Future Links Girls Club
• CN Future Links Mobile Clinics
• CN Future Links Girls Club
• CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge
• CN Future Links Field Trip program
• PGA Junior League Golf delivered by CN Future Links

Golf Canada, in close partnership with the PGA of Canada, is excited to add several new initiatives (coming in 2015) to their base of junior programming:

• Golf in Schools Intermediate program—Spring launch
• Learn to Compete (intermediate golf program)—Spring launch
• Long-Term Player Development Guide—version 2.0—February launch
• Two new  initiatives, linking students to golf courses—Spring launch

For those looking for a competitive edge, the Canadian Junior Golf Association recently announced their tournament schedule for 2015. The Maple Leaf Junior Tour has also made their list available online at this link.

Golf Canada’s competitive schedule is available here.

For all things related to junior golf, including news, programs, National Junior Golf Development Centres and course look-up, visit juniors.golfcanada.ca

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Bhavik Patel has been suspended one year for violating the PGA Tour’s anti-doping policy, making him the second player to be suspended since golf began its drug testing program in June 2008.

Patel has never played a PGA Tour event. He narrowly missed his card in last Q-school in 2012 and played the last two years on the Web.com Tour. Patel finished 103rd on the money list and did not qualify for the Web.com Tour Finals.

“In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgment,” Patel said in a statement released through the tour. “I regret my decision but have learned from the experience and look forward to returning to competition.”

The tour said the suspension would be retroactive to Oct. 7. That means Patel would not be eligible to play until Web.com Q-school next fall.

Under its anti-doping policy, the tour is not required to disclose the performance-enhancing drug Patel used.

Doug Barron was playing the Nationwide Tour when he was suspended in 2009 for a positive test. Barron was 40 and suffered from low testosterone. His lawsuit against the tour was resolved, and Barron returned from suspension two months early and was granted a therapeutic use exemption.

Vijay Singh, who is in the World Golf Hall of Fame, told a magazine in 2013 that he had used deer antler spray after the tour had warned players that the spray had contained IGF-1, which is on the tour’s list of banned substances. The tour had planned to suspend Singh – this had not been announced while Singh was allowed to appeal – and then dropped its case against the Fijian based on updating information on the spray from the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Singh then sued the PGA Tour. The lawsuit is pending.

Patel, 24, is from Bakersfield, California, and played college golf at Fresno State.

HONOLULU – Adam Hadwin will resume his first full season on the PGA Tour out of his comfort zone.

The native of Moose Jaw, Sask., now living in Abbotsford, B.C., tees it up Thursday at the Sony Open in Hawaii, the Tour’s first full-field event of 2015 that comes following nearly a two-month break. Hadwin will be one of five Canadians in the field – joining David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Nick Taylor, a Winnipeg native now living in Abbotsford, Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., and Calgary native Roger Sloan – as American Jimmy Walker defends his title.

But Hadwin will have to get used to more than just the five-hour time difference in Hawaii.

“It feels weird to start my season this quickly,” Hadwin said during a conference call Wednesday. “Normally I’ve got another month before I start.

“I went home for Christmas for a week, then straight back down to Phoenix and right back into it. I’ve been working hard in Phoenix since Dec. 28th. The reason I worked so hard was a pretty good reason, to play on the PGA Tour.”

Hadwin will play the full 2014-15 season after topping the Web.com Tour money list last year. The 27-year-old opened the campaign on a solid note, making the cut in four of the five events he entered, finishing tied for 10th at the $6.2-million US Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas in October.

But Hadwin didn’t kick back and enjoy himself over the break. With longtime coach Brett Saunders heading to Australia to visit family, Hadwin said he had to get in as much work with Saunders as possible before his departure. After spending Christmas with family, Hadwin went to Phoenix and resumed preparing for the resumption of the Tour schedule.

Still, after a hectic ’14 campaign, Hadwin said the time off – while limited – was certainly welcomed.

“I was definitely drained, I was ready for a break,” he said. “There wasn’t a whole lot of time to enjoy the 2014 year and what went on.

“By the end of Mexico (the OHL Classic at Playa del Carmen, which ended Nov. 16), I was ready to put some distance between me and my clubs for a while.”

Hadwin resumes play at No. 100 in the Tour rankings and 682 points behind FedEx Cup leader Robert Streb.

“I think I got off to an OK start,” Hadwin said. “I really struggled with my game the first part but the one thing I learned was when I didn’t feel my best I was able to kind of hang in there, make the cut and get to the weekend and once you do that you never know what could happen.

“You might find lightning in a bottle and jump into a top-10 like I did in Vegas. I was really proud that in the first five events I was able to do that.”

Hadwin, who had two wins on the Web.com Tour, was recently named as Canada’s top male golfer for 2014 by the Golf Journalist’s Association of Canada. But Hadwin hasn’t set personal goals over the remainder of the PGA Tour.

Instead, his focus will be on matters he can control.

“I’m not a huge goal-setter, especially not sort of outcome goals – things like I want to keep my card or I want to be in the top-50,” he said. “Those are very dependant on how others play.

“This year I’m just more focused on making sure I am as prepared as I can be for each event. I want to be a little bit better with my time management so that I’m doing everything each week that I need to do in order to be prepared for that event, scheduling enough time to get into the gym to stretch out and loosen my body and do all those things. If I can take care of the things I can control and prepare on and off the golf course then I’m going to set myself up to be successful. From there it’s anybody’s guess on how far I can take this.”

And although Hadwin is living out his dream of playing on the PGA Tour, he says his life hasn’t changed.

“I’m still doing the same things, I’m still friends with the same people, still hanging out and enjoying my life,” he said. “Obviously things on the course have changed a little bit, we’re playing bigger events, more people are watching.

“But life off the course hasn’t changed.”

ADELAIDE, Australia – Coming out of a second round bye, Team Canada’s Women’s Development Squad had their hands full on Wednesday with the team from Great Britain & Ireland at the Grange Club.

In total, GB&I recorded a convincing 5-2 victory over Team Canada’s Development Squad, set up by a pair of 5 & 4 wins in the morning matches.

Canada salvaged some respect in the afternoon’s single matches, taking down GB&I’s top-ranked amateur Bronte Law—No. 27 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)—with a 2 & 1 win from Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.). Ottawa native Grace St-Germain also won her match, defeating Chloe Williams of Wales, 4 & 3.

Later wins from Connie Jaffrey, Charlotte Thomas and Hayley Davis ended Canada’s title chances and put GB&I in the driver’s seat.

Those wins also gave GB&I commanding lead in the matches won category, meaning that a come-from-behind victory in will be unlikely.

Canada remains winless in the foursome category—they will look to get on the board in Thursday’s round against South Africa.

Live scoring is available here.

CARLSBAD, Calif. – PUMA Golf has announced the release of its new TITANTOUR golf footwear.

Designed to be the coolest shoe in golf, the TITANTOUR features revolutionary, temperature-regulating Outlast® Technology along with a sleek, eye-catching silhouette for a tour performance golf shoe with industry-leading comfort and style.

Outlast Certified Space Technology was originally developed for NASA to maintain a comfortable temperature in spacesuits. Now, PUMA Golf brings this technology to the golf course with TITANTOUR. The strategic placement of Outlast in the sockliner top cloth is designed to proactively manage heat while controlling the production of moisture before it begins. Foot temperature is regulated through phase-change materials that absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.

“Once again, we are pushing the limits of footwear innovation and style. The TITANTOUR provides even greater comfort for the golfer by proactively regulating heat and reacting to changes in conditions and foot temperature,” said PUMA Golf Head of Footwear Grant Knudson.

“The fit, feel and performance of the new TITANTOUR shoes are specifically designed to meet the needs of all golfers at the highest level.”
The TITANTOUR also features PowerFrame Technology – an ultra-thin TPU frame encases the EVA midsole for lightweight strength, extreme durability, increased flexibility and superior traction, combined with external TPU Heel Support, to provide greater stability and ground contact for additional force and power during a swing.

Combining performance with style, the upper touts a sleek design that is made of full-grain, ultra-premium leather for a soft feel and sophisticated look while PowerVamp across the forefoot reduces stretch over time and provides increased stability. The upper and insole come equipped with ShapeLock memory foam for a customized fit, long-lasting comfort and cushioning with every step.

“The new TITANTOUR shoe provides all the performance, comfort, cooling and support that I need in a golf shoe, but better yet it has a look and feel that really fits my style on course,” said COBRA PUMA GOLF Tour Professional Rickie Fowler. “PUMA Golf continues to make shoes that help me perform on Tour and keep me one-step ahead of my competition.”

New, low-profile Stealth cleats utilize K5 for long-lasting abrasion resistance, while strategically placed walls of secondary traction surround and work with the removable cleats for unrivaled traction and stability. The outsole features anatomically positioned flex grooves that allow the foot to move naturally while providing the necessary support.

The TITANTOUR (MSRP $220 CDN) is available in four color combinations—Black-White; White- Vibrant Orange; White-Black and the new Flash colorway, made of reflective material. All colours hit golf retailers starting February 1, 2015 and offer a two year waterproof guarantee.

Also new is the TITANLITE (MSRP $130 CDN), which utilizes the same Outlast technology as the TITANTOUR, with a waterproof, Microfiber leather upper for lightweight durability and comfort. The Molded EVA Sockliner works to provide a molded fit for long-lasting comfort and the Carbon Rubber outsole provides excellent support and durability.

TITANLITE will also be available in store 2/1 in five colorways: White-Black, White-Black-Vibrant Orange, White-Chestnut-Black, Limestone Grey- Steel Greg-Strong Blue, and Black-White.

For more information on these shoes, along with PUMA Golf’s entire product line, please visit www.cobragolf.com/pumagolf.

Rory McIlroy isn’t divulging what is on his list of seven goals for 2015 that he jotted down on the back of his boarding pass on a flight to Dubai last week.

Completing a career Grand Slam at the Masters in April? Surely that was No. 1. A court case against his former management company, scheduled for February, is also a defining early year date for the world’s top-ranked player.

Winning this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship may not have been on the list, but it would end years of frustration for McIlroy at what has become his traditional year-opening tournament.

McIlroy has finished second at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in three of the last four years. On two of those occasions, he was hit with rule penalties that ultimately cost him victory.

“One of the goals this week is just to have no penalty shots when I don’t need them,” he said. “And see where I end up at the end of the week.”

Losing out to Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal in a thrilling end to last year’s tournament was one of the few regrets for McIlroy in a stunning 2014.

He won the British Open and the PGA Championship to double his tally of major titles, returned to the top of the rankings, and was one of the stars of the European team that retained the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

McIlroy wants more.

“I didn’t achieve everything that I wanted to last year,” he said.

It has become something of a ritual for him to write down his objectives for the season on his boarding pass on his flight out for his first tournament of the year. He puts the list in his wallet and memorizes it.

“I’ll take that boarding pass out at the end of the year and see how well I’ve done,” McIlroy said.

“I feel 2014 has really set me up for another great year. I’m coming in with a nice little bit of momentum, and (my) game is feeling good.”

With McIlroy having had a month off, his rivals in Abu Dhabi will hope Boy Wonder is rusty.

It is another strong field, with No. 2 Henrik Stenson, U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, No. 6 Justin Rose and American star Rickie Fowler – making his debut in the desert – among the other entries.

McIlroy and Fowler are in the same group for the first two days, marking the first time they have played together since the singles at the Ryder Cup. McIlroy put on an awesome performance that Sunday, winning 5 and 4.

Kaymer is a three-time winner (2008, ’10 and ’11) in Abu Dhabi, and was one stroke off first place in 2009. The German is one of the few players to have a better record on the course than McIlroy, who was third in 2010 and tied for fifth in 2009 before his run of runner-up finishes.

“It’s a golf course I’ve always felt comfortable on, one that has suited me, and I have played well here,” McIlroy said. “This is my eighth year in a row starting the season off here, so I’m pretty familiar with the place, and looking forward to another strong start to the season.”