Next stop Wentworth for Holland’s golf talent
Thousands of Feyenoord fans have been enjoying a week of celebrations after the club from Rotterdam was crowned Eredivisie champion. It was the first time since 1999 that Feyenoord had clinched the title with man of the match, Dirk Kuyt scoring a fairytale hat-trick of goals to secure a 3-1 home victory over Heracles. Among the jubilant fans was Holland’s number one golfer, Joost Luiten.
Late on Sunday evening, the European Tour player who lives in Rotterdam and is a fanatical Feyenoord supporter, posted a photograph of himself on Twitter celebrating his club’s victory with girlfriend Melanie and other ecstatic fans standing in the middle of the Hofplein Fountain in the city.
Positive golf vibes after football club victory
Feyenoord winning the national league could well give our Joost a boost in his next event. And that would be most timely with the European Tour’s flagship event, the prestigious BMW PGA Championship, coming up at Wentworth at the end of May.
It’s a well-known fact that a happy golfer off the course makes for a more relaxed and happier golfer on the course. Joost’s delight in seeing his team become Dutch Champions could well have a very positive influence on his game. Such euphoric moments can help relieve stress (and frustration) and send healthy feel-good-factor vibes through the body. The 31-year old Tour player’s game could do with a boost right right now.
Joost’s problem?
By Joost’s high standards, it has been a mediocre season so far. His Official World Golf Ranking has slipped to 70th. In the Race to Dubai, he is now 41st. His best finish on the European Tour this year is a tie for 13th place (Trophee Hassan II in April). His biggest pay-cheque of the season is 76,292 euros for finishing in a share of 25th place in the WGC – Mexico Championship in March. His problem? The putter.
In Mexico, he began the final round in a good position only to throw it away on the greens. At the first hole, he had an eagle chance and walked off with a birdie which ended up his one and only of the day despite hitting every green but one in regulation.
“Twice I missed a putt from one meter!”
Joost Luiten shares his frustration on his website.
Closer to home, he didn’t make the weekend with Reinier Saxton in the Tour’s innovative new GolfSixes event in London which was eventually won by Denmark with the dynamic duo of Thorbjorn Oleson and Lucas Bjerregaard.
It looks as if Joost’s putter has gone stone-cold. Or perhaps he is still getting acclimatised to his new TaylorMade Spider Tour Red mallet putter. I’m not sure. Apparently Jason Day uses the same type of putter and has already won on the PGA Tour with it. Also the current world number one Dustin Johnson has a black version of the Spider in his bag. But what about Joost’s old Scotty Cameron putter, I hear you ask. Indeed, he did win two KLM Opens with his old Scotty Cameron companion…
But let us focus on this week’s positives – Feyenoord, the Champions! In just over a week’s time, we’ll be able to see if my Feyenoord-feel-good-factor theory works out. Joost tees-off in the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in England next Thursday, 25th May.
Enjoy the Feyenoord boost, Joost! And, Proost!
Wendy Hoad
PICTURED: Joost Luiten with his girlfriend Melanie celebrating Feyenoord’s victory in Rotterdam. (Photo: Twitter)