Furyk rides luck for title
Source: Agencies |
April 20, 2010, Tuesday
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JIM Furyk clinched his 15th PGA Tour title when his playoff with Britain's Brian Davis for the Heritage Classic ended in unfortunate circumstances at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, on Sunday.
The American world No. 6 triumphed at the first extra hole after Davis was assessed a two-stroke penalty for making contact with a loose impediment in a greenside hazard when playing his third shot.
On his back swing, Englishman Davis clipped a dry reed with his club before splashing out to 30 feet and he immediately called over a rules official to clarify the situation.
Having been penalized, Davis went on to miss his long-range putt and conceded the title to Furyk, who was six feet from the cup after three shots at the par-four 18th.
Furyk coolly sank his par putt to complete his second victory on the US circuit in five weeks.
"To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I want to win," the 39-year-old American told reporters. "It's obviously a tough loss for him, and I respect and admire what he did.
"I'm very happy to win but you almost don't know how to react," said Furyk, who ended a PGA Tour title drought of almost three years at last month's Tampa Bay Championship. "It was an awkward moment, an awkward way to win."
Davis, who had been seeking his first PGA Tour victory, had a bad feeling the minute he completed his third shot in the playoff.
"It was one of those things I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye," the Englishman said. "I thought we'd check on TV, and indeed there was movement."
The pair finished the 72 regulation holes on 13-under-par 271, Davis rolling in a 17-foot birdie putt on the 18th green for a three-under-par 68 and Furyk closing with a 69. American Bo van Pelt bogeyed the last for a 69 to share third place at 10 under with Britain's Luke Donald (70).
A final-round shootout appeared to be on the cards with Furyk holding a slender one-stroke advantage overnight and 12 players bunched within three strokes of his lead.
Although Furyk was caught early on by playing partner Davis and American Heath Slocum, he regained a one-shot cushion after reaching the turn in three-under 33.
Furyk and Davis then duelled for supremacy over the back nine before the Briton appeared to throw away his title bid with missed six-footers to bogey 15 and 16.
The American world No. 6 triumphed at the first extra hole after Davis was assessed a two-stroke penalty for making contact with a loose impediment in a greenside hazard when playing his third shot.
On his back swing, Englishman Davis clipped a dry reed with his club before splashing out to 30 feet and he immediately called over a rules official to clarify the situation.
Having been penalized, Davis went on to miss his long-range putt and conceded the title to Furyk, who was six feet from the cup after three shots at the par-four 18th.
Furyk coolly sank his par putt to complete his second victory on the US circuit in five weeks.
"To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I want to win," the 39-year-old American told reporters. "It's obviously a tough loss for him, and I respect and admire what he did.
"I'm very happy to win but you almost don't know how to react," said Furyk, who ended a PGA Tour title drought of almost three years at last month's Tampa Bay Championship. "It was an awkward moment, an awkward way to win."
Davis, who had been seeking his first PGA Tour victory, had a bad feeling the minute he completed his third shot in the playoff.
"It was one of those things I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye," the Englishman said. "I thought we'd check on TV, and indeed there was movement."
The pair finished the 72 regulation holes on 13-under-par 271, Davis rolling in a 17-foot birdie putt on the 18th green for a three-under-par 68 and Furyk closing with a 69. American Bo van Pelt bogeyed the last for a 69 to share third place at 10 under with Britain's Luke Donald (70).
A final-round shootout appeared to be on the cards with Furyk holding a slender one-stroke advantage overnight and 12 players bunched within three strokes of his lead.
Although Furyk was caught early on by playing partner Davis and American Heath Slocum, he regained a one-shot cushion after reaching the turn in three-under 33.
Furyk and Davis then duelled for supremacy over the back nine before the Briton appeared to throw away his title bid with missed six-footers to bogey 15 and 16.
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