Wie is Joost?

Alles over Joost op EuropeanTour.com

Biography

Game Boy

Joost Luiten grows up as a typical child of the area he was born in. In the rural Bleiswijk, the mentality of Rotterdam meets that of the Dutch Westland. Joost prefers deeds above words and is very ‘down to earth’. As a young boy, Joost shows himself to be a true ‘game boy’. He loves games and tends to drive his competitors crazy; he does not only always want to win, he always does win. The same dedication is characteristic of Joost Luiten as a young sportsman. Table tennis, cycling, skiing, football (as part of his team the Soccer Boys), Joost masters the basic skills in no time at all and always wants to be the best. Unfortunately, this is also the case for many competitors…

Golf permission and a handicap

Initially, when Joost is nine years old, he chooses to practice the unusual sport of ski jumping. In the Netherlands there are not many places where one can practice this sport and therefore he pays the German Sauerland a visit every fortnight. At the same time, he is introduced to the sport of golf by his uncle Wim. At golf course De Rottebergen, near his hometown Bleiswijk, and on the Driving Range of the GCR in Rotterdam, it is evident that Joost has a talent for the noble game of golf. Luiten is ten years old when he has an unfortunate accident during a ski jump. He fractures his elbow and his nose and is lucky only to bruise his knee. His father Nico is determined; Joost will have to quit ski jumping. His exam to get his Dutch golf permit (GVB) was scheduled shortly after this accident. While being handicapped with his injured elbow, he does the exam and passes. Obviously…

Oh right, school!

While Joost is at primary school he does the Dutch national CITO-examination. The test shows that Joost can go on to the second-highest form of secondary education in the Netherlands, the HAVO. His results during the first year are not very good however, so he drops to do the lower level, the MAVO. Playing sports, and especially golf, is much more fun! After easily finishing his secondary school, he commits himself to another two years of school. He takes revenge on his first year and on himself and passes his HAVO-examination. This final sprint (which would be characteristic of his game later as well) allowed him to go to Higher School of Economics (the Dutch HES). As Joost enters the world of higher education he occasionally goes to his examinations, though he spends most of his time playing golf. Meanwhile he has become one of the best amateur golf players in the Netherlands. He decides to quit the HES and focus on his golf career. Not a bad decision…

Hard work

There are many boys and girls in the Netherlands that have an incredible talent for golf. Joost Luiten has that impressive talent as well. Joost realises from day one that the way to set yourself apart with such a talent and reach your full potential is through (self-)discipline and extensive training, every day over and over again. It is mentality that fits his roots as someone from Bleiswijk. It is also a mentality that he inherited naturally from his hard-working parents. From the moment onwards that he chooses to commit to golf, he dedicates his life to the sport. His goals are clear: he wants to be the best. Soon it appears that this goal is perhaps not as unreasonable as it may seem. On the contrary…

Step by step

The first real success is achieved sooner than expected: in 2004 Joost Luiten wins the Tromp-cup, as a part of the Dutch strokeplay-championship for amateurs under eighteen years. In February 2005 he establishes his name internationally by winning the Spanish Open for amateurs. This tournament is seen by many as the largest and most prestigious tournament after the British Open for amateurs. Two months later he also wins the title at the German Open for non-professional golf players. In his own country Luiten comes second at the both the National strokeplay and the Dutch matchplay-championship. Step by step, Joost shows himself to be a technically gifted player, without any true weaknesses in his game. His desire to improve will probably remain until the day that he really is the best. Typical…

The ‘Luiten Charge’

In 2006 the golf world is introduced for the first time to an aspect of Joost’s game that will probably be connected to his name and fame forever. Luiten excels extraordinarily at attacking on the last holes, if the situation on the scoreboard deems it necessary. As a member of the European team he plays the last four holes five below par against the Americans in the Bonallack Trophy. The Europeans win the trophy. Later that year Joost Luiten plays for the Dutch team during the world-championship in South Africa. Luiten, together with golf players Tim Sluiter and a supreme Wil Besseling, keeps the Netherlands on top of the scoreboard for three days, above leading golf nations such as the USA, Canada and England. Initially Joost does not play well on the final day. He plays three bogeys on the first nine holes. The Canadian and American teams therefore seem to have the best papers to win the Eisenhower Trophy, the Cup belonging to that World Championship. Luiten refuses to accept the situation. When he hears about it at hole thirteen, Joost Luiten revives. He plays a birdie on hole 14, an eagle on 15, a birdie on 16, a birdie on 17 and a birdie on 18. The Netherlands becomes world champion! Six strokes below par on the last five holes! The Netherlands makes history! Joost as well, since the ‘Luiten Charge’ is born…

What’s good will come fast

The results are good and remain good. That good even, he makes the big step into the professional world of golf. Joost becomes a member of Golf Team Holland, an initiative of the Dutch National Golf Federation (NGF) which is being led by Jeroen Stevens. As a member of this team, Joost is able to develop his skills in a relatively calm and safe environment. He does not qualify for the Challenge Tour just yet, but there are more ways than one to achieve his goals. In 2007 Joost starts off as a player on the EPD tour, a tour that cherishes young talent and encourages development. Soon, because of his excellent results, he is regularly invited to the tournaments of the Challenge Tour. After four tournaments, Joost wins the tournament in Toulouse (64 on the final day) and shortly after the Vodafone Open (61! on the final day). Thousands of spectators and millions watching television witness the Luiten Charge during the KLM Open on the Kennemer golf course in the Netherlands. He does not win just yet, but he earns a lot of respect by climbing up to the second place on the last holes. Joost plays that well that he gets ‘promoted’ twice in one year. Joost participates in the European tour! Where will this story end? As the Dutch saying goes, only Joost will know…

Injury

In 2008 Joost got a wrist injury. Because of this injury he didn’t play enough tournaments to keep is card for 2009. From the European Tour he got a medical exemption. He played the tournament and earned enough money to get al full card for season 2010. After two top 10 finishes in 9 tournaments in 2010 we will see what’s going to happen. Because with Joost, you never know… After Joost joined the team of I.S.M. on November the first 2009, the year 2010 became his first complete year on The European Tour. And what a year !!!!!!!!!!! Joost played 27 tournaments, resulting in 6 top-ten finishes. He misses the cut only twice, so no problem earning his tourcard for 2011. He ends this year as the number 28 in The Race to Dubai.

First Victory

In 2011 Joost played 27 tournaments, resulting in 7 top-ten finishes. He misses the cut 7 times. But …… on November 20th. 2011 Joost has his first (and by many expected) well-deserved victory on The European Tour. At The ISKANDOR JOHOR OPEN in Malaya a very proud and happy Joost could have his photo taken with the cup in his hands. His -15 was the best result: FIRST VICTORY !!!!!! He ends this year as the number 24 in The Race to Dubai.

NOT GOOD. NOT BAD.

2012 was a year in which it just didn’t all work out as planned. A second place in The Wales Open was his best result in 2012. The highlight of the year though was the fact that Joost has been number one on the leaderboard for a period of time during The US PGA Championship in Kiawah Island. Joost ended 108th. on the OWGR and 44th. in the Race to Dubai. In 2012 Joost participated in 25 tournaments, resulting in 9 top-30 finishes. He missed the cut 5 times. In 2012 Joost made a lot of efforts on improving his fysical condition and on improving his short game. Joost has high hopes of 2013.