Furyk ends long drought by winning Transitions
March 21, 2010
PALM HARBOR, Florida (AP)—Jim Furyk showed the nerves of a player trying towin for the first time on the PGA Tour. Considering how long it had been sincehis last victory, it felt that way.
Furyk closed with a 2-under 69 on Sunday for a one-shot victory over K.J.Choi in the Transitions Championship, his first victory since the 2007 CanadianOpen to end his longest winless stretch since he first joined the tour 16 yearsago.
He did just enough right on the back nine of Innisbrook that he could afforda few mistakes down the stretch, and he nearly made a whopper.
With a two-shot lead on the 18th hole of the Copperhead course, Furyk droveinto the trees, nearly took out NBC reporter Roger Maltbie with his next shotand needed a good lag from 30 feet to secure a bogey.
Furyk finished at 13-under 271 and won for the 14th time in his career,moving to No. 6 in the world.
“I have a habit of making it tough on myself,” Furyk said. “Just nervesgot me, to be honest with you.”
Choi, who started three shots out of the lead, was tied with Furyk throughseven holes until a two-shot swing on the par-3 eighth. Choi never got anycloser until the final hole. He closed with a 4-under 67, but his runner-upfinish should be enough to move him to No. 47 in the world and give him a goodchance to get into the Masters.
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