Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 20 July 2017
Furyk trying to make most of rare absence from British Open

By JOHN ZENOR He didn’t compete the better,” he said after finish-
AP Sports Writer last three weeks while he ing a pro-am round. “After
OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — Jim and his family went on a playing it for two days ... it
Furyk would ordinarily be long-planned river cruise seems like a place that if I
playing in the British Open in Europe. He was hoping play well, I should have an
this week. to stick around for the Brit- opportunity to score pretty
Instead, the 47-year-old ish Open at Royal Birkdale, well.” Furyk is one of five
former U.S. Open cham- where he shared fifth place major champions in the
pion is 4,000 miles away at in 2008 and fourth in 1998. Alabama field, including
the Barbasol Champion- Furyk wound up missing the Davis Love III, Angel Ca-
ship trying to improve his field and was left choosing brera, Retief Goosen and
standing for the FedEx Cup between playing in Reno, Y.E. Yang. The winner gets
playoffs. It’s the first time Nevada, early in next in the PGA Championship
Furyk hasn’t been eligible month or at Grand Nation- but not the Masters. Love
for a major since the 1995 al, part of the Robert Trent would also no doubt rather
British Open at St. Andrews Jones Golf Trail. He’ll have be playing in Southport,
in just his second full year to be content with check- England, this week. But
on the PGA Tour. ing out the scores from the trip to Alabama does
“I’ve got no one to blame the Open in the evenings let him go against son Dru
but myself,” the 17-time while enduring Alabama’s Love for the third time. “It’s
PGA Tour winner said steamy conditions dur- great, probably until we
Wednesday at Grand ing the day. Furyk talked get started in the tourna-
National. “I’ve had some to other players about the ment, then I’ve got to work
shining moments since In this May 12, 2017, file photo, Jim Furyk hits from the 12th tee course and checked past really hard to beat him,”
last summer but since I’ve during the second round at The Players Championship golf tour- results to see which play- said Davis Love, who won
come back from (wrist) nament, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. ing style seemed to fare the 1997 PGA Champion-
surgery, I haven’t played Associated Press best. He opted for Grand ship. “There’s so many of
consistent.” Furyk missed National. “It was easier these young kids now that
six straight cuts after a ranked 142nd and needing week. from a travel perspective hit it so far and play so well.
sixth-place finish at Sea Is- to move into the top 125 to Furyk did fare better at the but I think for my game It’s another generation
land in November. Now, make the playoffs with four U.S. Open (23rd) and Trav- it sounded like this golf coming out trying to knock
the Ryder Cup captain is events remaining after this elers Championship (26th). course might suit me a little the old guys out.”q