Furyk relieved at first victory in two years

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2005 Cialis Western Open | Wrap | 04 Jul 2005

The sigh of relief from Jim Furyk was almost audible. After picking his ball from the hole at the 72nd hole of the Cialis Western Open, Furyk had won for the first time in nearly two years and despite some very good form this season there had still been the questions being asked as to how well he had recovered from wrist surgery in 2004.

Those questions can now be well and truly put to bed and for the 35-year-old his 10th win on the USPGA Tour would likely rank up there with his US Open win as one of the more satisfying. Three times this season Furyk had gone close, finishing runner up on three occasions including last week’s Barclays Classic when he was gazumped by a brilliant 72nd hole putt by Padraig Harrington.

Today, after a three holes of the final round, it appeared as if another runner up placing was again a possibility as Furyk dropped shots at the second and third holes to fall four behind surprise leader Ben Curtis who had birdied the holes that Furyk had bogeyed.

Lurking five back at the start of play was Tiger Woods, who was not able to get the hot start he wanted but the fireworks began for him at the 4th. Five birdies in the next seven holes had him within two of Furyk who had turned around his slow start and by the time he reached the 11th tee he was two ahead of Woods with Curtis slipping back to share second at that stage with Woods.

Woods drove it into the light rough at the par five 11th and hit a nine iron from 196 yards to some 60 feet. A two putt birdie would get him within one but Woods was about to pull out the dramatic play. He holed it across the green there for eagle and had drawn level with Furyk who was playing in the group behind. Furyk still had the par five to play though and after a massive drive, he was able to make birdie and move ahead again.

At the very next Furyk created a two shot cushion with another birdie after hitting his tee shot to 10 feet and just a few minutes later that lead became three when Woods took bogey at the 13th after three putting from long range. Woods again aided the Furyk cause with yet another bogey at the par three 14th after he left it in the bunker there and did well to make bogey. The world number one did bounce back with a great up and down from the front bunker for birdie at the 15th but surely a three shot lead was too much to concede a player such as Furyk.

Furyk was feeling the pinch however and took bogey at the 17th after his second from the middle of the fairway caught the front bunker. With a two shot lead playing the potentially dangerous last, Furyk drove it perfectly but still left with 201 yards, he needed a good solid shot to avoid trouble. His second was perfectly thought out and executed, finding the green some twenty feet from the flag and when he two putted for par the title was his.

Furyk is in fine form right now and although his record in recent years at the British Open leaves a lot to be desired, his form there early in his career was good enough for him to be considered some sort of chance next week.

Woods continued his brilliant season with his third top three in his last three starts and he heads to Ireland for a week of British Open preparation in perhaps the best state of mind about his game for some time. His all round stats were impressive and importantly, in the lead up to St Andrews, he putted well.

For the record, Woods still trails Vijay Singh on the 2005 USPGA Tour money list but has taken his on course career earnings on the USPGA Tour beyond US$50 million and $US8 million ahead of his nearest pursuer in that category, Vijay Singh. Jim Furyk moved to 6th in that stat with $US23 million.

Ben Curtis, after his hot start, faded from that point but this will be a most encouraging week for the 2003 British Open Champion. In 2004, and too his credit, he tried, without success, to mix playing schedules in both the US and Europe but this season he has focused in the US. It has not been pretty until now with this being just his third cut made in fifteen attempts. That he held on so well after his opening 64 bares testament to a man with significant character although he had shown that on a July Sunday two years ago. Interestingly Curtis echoed the thoughts of many golfers who have come to the same conclusion in recent times that he was spending too much time on hitting balls and not enough time on the basics and on focusing on scoring. I wouldn’t mind a few dollars for every time I have heard that of late.

Billy Mayfair continued his improvement when fourth alone and both he and Pat Perez who was in a share of fifth will earn starts at the British Open courtesy of their performances here.

Of the Australasians, Craig Perks did best with a somewhat left field performance in 13th place. It was easily his best effort of the year although perhaps he too could learn from the comments made by Curtis. After winning the Players Championship in 2002 Perks set about rebuilding his game while he had the five year exemption. If this is the start of a comeback then it is not before time.

Previous winner Robert Allenby shared 16th with Mark Hensby who now heads for Silvis in Illinois to defend his 2004 John Deere Classic victory. Stuart Appleby was 28th, Geoff Ogilvy 33rd and John Senden 40th and Michael Long 68th.

The PGA Tour now heads to John Deere Classic.