Wearing Pro/SLX golf shoes and a Pure Touch glove, Peter Malnati tamed the snake pit to earn his first victory on the PGA Tour in nine years at the Valspar Championship.
Malnati started the final round on Sunday two shots behind the leader, before shooting a four-under-par 67, coming home in 31 shots.
On his way to victory in Florida, the American relied on the advanced materials, performance technologies and construction processes of the new Pro/SLX, which provide golfers with revolutionary traction, comfort and control.
The 36-year-old switched to the model at the Farmers Insurance Open back in January after commenting on the sublime comfort the shoe has to offer as well as the new improved look.
“Comfort is the most important thing I look for in a golf shoe and SLX are the most comfortable FJ shoe I have worn yet,” said Malnati.
“The look is more athletic than previous versions. They look a lot cooler.”
The advanced comfort comes from FJ’s exceptionally comfortable StratoFoam midsole which offers exceptional comfort and is specifically tuned to absorb and return energy with every step.
Around the ankle is a 3D Molded Collar that locks the foot in place for supreme comfort and a reliable, consistent fit.
In Florida, over half of the field (59%) chose to put their trust in the #1ShoeinGolf, with the nearest competitor coming in at 12%.
It was not just shoes which topped the equipment counts for the week, however, with 37% of the field opting to wear the #1GloveinGolf.
Elsewhere, on the PGA Tour Champions, Padraig Harrington finished with an eagle and two birdies in his final four holes on Sunday to win by a shot over fellow FJ shoe wearer, Thongchai Jaidee.
This is the Irishman’s 7th victory on the over-50’s circuit after winning on four occasions in 2022 and twice in 2023. He now moves up to 5th position in the Charles Schwab Cup standings after his win in California.
Contributing to his success are his FootJoy Tour Alpha golf shoes which, as Harrington states, are an integral part in helping him achieve optimal performance.
“I really like the stability of the Tour Alpha,” Harrington said.
“It is obviously a very comfortable shoe and is easy to wear around, but I am very much about the performance of the golf shoe, you won’t see me walking around in a pair of tennis trainers slipping and sliding.
“I have been quite comfortable in this shoe for a while now, I know what parameters I need, where I am trying to get as much power and grip from the ground as possible whilst also being stable, and the Tour Alpha genuinely delivers in that department.
“The shoe fitting process is actually very important, your golf shoe must fit your swing and a lot of amateurs tend to go for a shoe that just feels good, that they can wear when driving in the car.
“This works for some, but most players need that extra functionality in their shoe, and they should really go for a fitting to make sure they are wearing the right model.
For instance, some players may need a shoe that gives them a bit more mobility in the ankles and others may want a shoe with that extra stability.
“The great thing about FootJoy is that they have a range all the way through, that there is something that suits everybody which will help them get the most out of their golf.”
Tour Alpha performance golf shoes feature the proprietary Optimised Performance Stabiliser system (OPS) made up of the external 3D moulded heel counter, A-Frame and the lateral clip lock you in allowing you to swing away with full force.
The three-time major winner also relied on the performance leather and unmatched comfort of the StaSof glove, which continues to be the most-played glove on both the PGA and DP World Tours.
