After Another Close Call, a Close Inspection Shows Furyk to Be Thriving
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14 Sports WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014 After another close call, a close Ames to try for inspection shows Furyk to be thriving Shaw Charity Part of the problem for Furyk On the Fringe – and so many others – is that Classic title Woods set a standard that no one should be held against, whether The Canadian Press DOUG FERGUSON it’s his untouchable record as a The Associated Press closer (54-4 on the PGA Tour), CALGARY — Growing up in making the cut in 142 consecutive Trinidad and Tobago, Stephen ARAMUS, N.J. — The good tournaments over seven years or Ames never dreamed of one day news for Jim Furyk is that winning the career Grand Slam being inducted into the Canadian people finally stopped talk- twice before he turned 30. Golf Hall of Fame. ing about his golf swing that And part of the problem is Now a Canadian citizen and one only a mother could love perception. of the country’s most successful Pand a father could teach. There’s no harm in criticizing golfers, Ames was welcomed as Now it’s whether he knows how Furyk for having eight consecu- the 74th inductee into Canada’s to win. tive chances without cashing in. golf shrine during a private cer- Forgotten are his 16 victories on Furyk knows as well as anyone emony Tuesday at Canyon Mead- the PGA Tour. Among full-time in golf that a player is judged by ows Golf and Country Club. players, only Tiger Woods, Phil his score. It’s that simple. There “As a proud Canadian, I am truly Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis are explanations. No one wants humbled by this great honour,” Love III and Ernie Els have won to hear excuses, and Furyk rarely said Ames, who became a citizen more times. Furyk has a major offers any. in 2003 in his adopted hometown championship. He has played on What’s amazing is that he’s had of Calgary. “It kind of adds to the nine straight Ryder Cup teams, that many chances. fact of how much Canadians have one short of the U.S. record held Furyk is a pea shooter in an era embraced me – obviously becom- by Mickelson. And perhaps more of heavy artillery. Golf is about ing a Canadian citizen and now impressive than his $60 million in power, and has been for the getting into the Hall of Fame. It’s career earnings is that at age 44, majority of his career. He still has an added bonus.” he is the highest-ranked American been among the top players for Ames has 11 professional in the world. two decades. Even now, at age tournament wins to his credit, He’s not in a rut on the golf 44, he finished No. 3 in the Ryder including four on the PGA Tour, course. He’s in a rut when he talks Cup standings. the most memorable of which was to the media. A top player who considers a six-stroke victory at the 2006 Since his last victory in 2010 at himself a friend suggested Furyk Players Championship at TPC the Tour Championship, Furyk wouldn’t be able to sustain a high Sawgrass. has been in front eight times go- level of play on the PGA Tour “It has been a long journey, a ing into the final round and has for much longer. There were too lot of hours, a lot of miles, a lot of not converted. The most recent many players who were young, back pains, a lot of learning and occasion was Sunday at The hungry, polished and powerful. a lot of fun,” said the 50-year-old Barclays. He was tied for the lead That was four years ago. Furyk Champions Tour rookie, who’s one with Jason Day. Fifteen players had chances in two majors since. of the marquee names scheduled were separated by three shots Furyk recalls one writer who to compete at the Shaw Charity going into the final round, which asked him in 2006 if the game Classic from Friday to Sunday is like having no lead at all. It was was passing him by. When he at Canyon Meadows. “It’s hit- anyone’s tournament to win. Just AP PHOTO won the FedEx Cup in 2010, he ting home a little bit now for me. not his. Jim Furyk holds up his ball after putting for a birdie on the third saw the writer and smiled. It’s the highlight of my career So when he was asked about hole during the final round of play at The Barclays golf tourna- He’s not out to prove anything. right now, an added trophy to another Sunday when he didn’t ment Sunday in Paramus, N.J. He is trying to win tournaments. the career that I’ve had, which is “punch it in,” Furyk punched lost my dog. winning putt the last time the And he is being reminded more wonderful.” back. “It’s golf. I didn’t die out there Americans won the Ryder Cup on often than he’d like that it’s not Tournament director Sean Van “I feel like every time I go to today,” he said. “I don’t expect European soil. easy and never has been. He’s Kesteren is excited to see how the press room, I understand the anyone to feel sorry for me.” Love also had a stretch once also not trying to lash out at the Ames will fare once the action gets questions coming and I feel like Furyk doesn’t have a great that was similar to what Furyk is media. under way on Friday. we’re in a morgue,” he said. record as a closer. Not many do. going through now. He went six “I understand why y’all ask the “I think he’s motivated,” Van “Like everyone is looking at me Even as Furyk was fighting to straight tournaments over three questions,” he said. Kesteren said. “He’s still obviously with this blank stare and they ask stay in the hunt as he made the years when he didn’t win after “I guess I want everyone to a great player. To be inducted into me depressing questions. And turn, Shawn Stefani spoke for just taking at least a share of the lead know that I’m like, ‘God, this is the Hall of Fame, there’s not too they bring up the Ryder Cup the about every tour player when he going into the final round. In his kind of a sad conversation.’ I want many folks that get that honour. last time [a singles loss to Sergio said, “I picked the worst sport for last 12 chances, Love converted to walk in there happy. I guess Hopefully this will fire him up for Garcia], and we go through Ak- winning.” only two of them. I’ve got to win to do that. So if and the week and he’ll represent Cal- ron [a double bogey on the 18th Love has 20 career victories, Not everyone can be Tiger when it happens, I’ll have a big gary and all the fans that are here hole] ... and I leave there like I including a major. He holed the Woods. No one is. smile on my face.” to support him.” Kei Nishikori (10), Japan, def. Wayne Odesnik, United Koukalova, Czech Republic, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Seattle 34, Chicago 6 Pittsburgh 68 64 .515 5 1/2 Dickey 6 5 3 1 2 6 4.00 States, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Coco Vandeweghe, United States, def. Donna Vekic, SATURDAY’S GAMES Cincinnati 63 69 .477 10 1/2 McGowan 1/3 2 1 1 1 0 4.08 Richard Gasquet (12), France, def. Denis Istomin, Croatia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Tampa Bay 27, Buffalo 14 Chicago 59 72 .450 14 Cecil 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 3.40 CITIZEN Uzbekistan, 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Vania King, United States, def. Francesca Schiavone, Miami 25, Dallas 20 WEST DIVISION Loup 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 2.85 John Isner (13), United States, def. Marcos Giron, Italy, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Tennessee 24, Atlanta 17 W L Pct GB Aa.Sanchez 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 1.83 United States, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (2). Baltimore 23, Washington 17 Los Angeles 74 58 .561 - Janssen L, 3-2 1 2 4 3 0 2 3.93 SPORTS Fabio Fognini (15), Italy, def. Andrey Golubev, CFL Minnesota 30, Kansas City 12 San Francisco 68 62 .523 5 Santos 1/3 3 3 3 0 1 8.57 Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. All Times Eastern New Orleans 23, Indianapolis 17 San Diego 60 70 .462 13 St.Tolleson 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0.00 LOCAL RESULTS Roberto Bautista Agut (17), Spain, def. Andreas EAST DIVISION St. Louis 33, Cleveland 14 Arizona 55 76 .420 18 1/2 Janssen pitched to 4 batters in the 11th. NORTH CARIBOO Haider-Maurer, Austria, 5-7, 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. GP W L T PF PA Pt Houston 18, Denver 17 Colorado 53 77 .408 20 A.Wilson pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Gael Monfils (20), France, def. Jared Donaldson, SUNDAY’S GAMES MONDAY’S GAMES Inherited runners-scored-Layne 1-0, Badenhop 1-0, SENIOR SOCCER LEAGUE Toronto 9 3 6 0 223 249 6 United States, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.