Jim Furyk
Residence: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
DOB: 05/12/1970
The man with a swing all his own! In fact, ABC commentator David Feherty likened it to that of an ‘octopus falling out of a tree.’ Still, who cares what the swing looks like if you can win a US Open?
Born in Pennsylvania Furyk has never had any lesson as an amateur or a professional. The only instructor he has ever had was his dad, Mike, which may account for his unusual swing. It has been his father who has insisted, against all contrary advice throughout his life that Jim kept with his natural swing – no matter how mad it might look. It seems that dad was proved right.
He attended the University of Arizona and turned professional in 1992. Furyk won at least one tournament each year on the PGA Tour between 1998 and 2003 as well as bagging his first Major in 2003 when he won the US Open at Olympia Fields, tying the record for the lowest 72-hole score in US Open history (272). Jim finished second on the US PGA 2006 money list and won the Vardon Trophy for the first time in the same year. He is ably helped by his caddy Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan who was Tiger Woods' caddy for his first two years as a professional.
With 21 professional wins to his name Jim Furyk is certainly one of the most consistent players on tour and goes about his business quietly, often sneaking up on the rails to victory. This calm, no nonsense approach to golf has left Furyk with almost $40,000,000 in career prize money so the question must be; why aren’t we all swinging like it?
Although without a win in 2008, Furyk has still put in a good show. His irritating consistency has seen him secure 9 top-10 finishes and take almost $3.5million to the bank. His best finish of the year came at the World Golf Championship CA Championship in May. He ended up in a tie for second with Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, while Geoff Ogilvy took the $1.5million spoils. The year ended on a positive not however with Jim securing 2 ½ points from his 4 matches, as the USA beat Europe in The Ryder Cup at Valhalla.
Jim Furyk Club History
Below is a selection of clubs used by Jim Furyk throughout his career
Jim Furyk Tournament History
2009 World Golf Championship - CA Championship |
12-15 March 2009 - Doral Golf and Spa Resort - Phil Mickelson won his first World Golf Championships title on Sunday at the CA Championship, where he held off Nick Watney to take the title by one stroke and his 36th career victory. However this was perhaps not the most news worthy story of the week. During his opening round, Henrik Stenson thought it a good idea to play from out of the water! After stripping down to his boxer shorts the Swede preceded to do just this. And it was down to PGA Tour photographer Kyle Auclair to capture this magical moment. With the world’s best golf photographers trailing Tiger Woods, Kyle decided he was going to follow other players instead. Little did he know this particular sequence of images would be plastered on newspapers, websites and television shows all over the country the next day. |
In Jim Furyk's bag...This was a much better performance by the Ryder Cup star. Opening rounds of 67 and a pair of 68’s left him in contention going into the final round on Sunday. Jim closed with a round of 67 - his best of the week - that left him alone in third place at the close of play and almost half a million dollars in prize money! We can clearly see that Jim is no longer using the Srixon Z-RW we snapped him with earlier in the season. He is now using a Titleist 909D2 driver.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational |
26-29 March 2009 - Bay Hill Country Club and Lodge - This week marked the return of the Tiger Woods we all know and love. After 9 months out of action after re-constructive knew surgery - a birdie putt at the 72nd hole saw Tiger win as Bay Hill for a sixth time. Those familiar back-nine heroics and a putt that everyone knew he was going to drain saw the world number 1 come from 5 strokes back on the final day - equalling his career best comeback. This remarkable comeback must have been great to watch apart from the eyes of Sean O’Hair who Woods beat into second place. |
In Jim Furyk's bag...An opening round of 78 left Jim with too much to do on the Friday to make the cut. He tried his hardest, returning a round of 70 but this was not enough and he proceeded to miss the cut. We caught up with Jim twice in quick secession at the beginning of 2009. This is the first shot. We can clearly see his Srixon Z-RW driver and his Srixon I-506 irons. There is also a Srixon WG 706 wedge hiding in the back. Neither the Srixon nor Jim’s personal website could unveil the identity of the clubs under the knitted headcovers. He forums are also rife with rumors that he has switched to the Odyssey Black Series i #9 putter.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational |
13-16 March - Arnold Palmer Invitational - Bay Hill Club and Lodge. In typical Tiger fashion, the world #1 sank a 24-foot putt on the 72nd hole at Bay Hill for his fifth consecutive win, much to the annoyance of Bart Bryant who was looking for his first win since 2005. This was his biggest challenge since this streak began 7 months ago, Woods outlasted 45-year-old Bart Bryant and won with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole for the first time in 7 years. He turned and slammed his cap to the ground, letting out a roar to celebrate his 64th career victory, tying Ben Hogan at #3 on the PGA Tour career list. |
In Jim Furyk's bag...A pair of 67’s in the opening 2 round put Jim in a great position going into the final rounds. However a brace of 73’s over the weekend saw him slip into a tie for 31st once the final shot had been struck. Yet another cracking picture from our resident photographer on the PGA Tour. Here we can clearly see that Jim was using a Srixon Z-RW driver from the tee with his usual enviable consistency. We can also see that he was using a set of Srixon Pro-100 irons. The photo is so good that we can even see the added lead-tape that Jim places behind the sweet spot for a little added weight.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2007 World Golf Championship - CA Championship |
22-25 March - WGC - CA Championship - Doral Golf Resort and Spa - Blue Monster Course. Tiger Woods bagged another $1.35m for his two-shot win over Ryder Cup team mate Brett Wetterich at the Blue Monster Course at the Doral Resort in Miami, Florida between 22nd-25th March 2007. No one ever got closer than three shots to Tiger on the final afternoon. The World Golf Championships are played over five continents – and feature the top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings along with top finishers on the money lists of six Tours comprising the International Federation of PGA Tours (PGA TOUR, European Tour, Australasian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Asian Tour and Southern Africa Tour). The formats vary - match play, strokeplay and team - but the purses are always big! The WGC CA Championship is the fifth tournament Woods has won at least three times in a row. |
In Jim Furyk's bag...In Jim's bag at Doral - a Srixon W-506 driver, Srixon I-506 irons, WG-504 wedge. He also carries a 13 degree Sonartec SS-07 fairway wood and an Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball putter.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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