CROMWELL, Connecticut (August 7, 2016) -- In the old
days, the Greater Hartford Open was played at a
course called Wethersfield Country Club that had one of
the lowest scoring averages on the PGA Tour. It was
even the site of Arnold Palmer's first American
professional victory.
But the tournament moved to Connecicut's TPC River
Highlands in the early 1990's, and Jim Furyk has been
a regular contestant year after year. It's not the
hardest course on Tour, but it's a TPC, and rates at
73.0/131. With Sunday pins, and healthy rough, River
Highlands was still no match for Jim Furyk of Team
Callaway on Sunday.
"It wouldn't have been a round that I expected coming if you look at, well I played pretty well at [the RBC Canadian Open], but struggled the week of the PGA [Championship]," Jim Furyk who made the 36-hole cut on the number said. "I think I was around 70th, I really had been struggling with my golf swing. Playing okay but not hitting it the way I expect and wanted too."
Furyk started his round with a modest par before rolling in his first birdie on No. 2 and then never looked back the rest of the way. The 46-year-old jarred an eagle from 135 yards out on the par-3 3rd to quickly to move to 3-under through three-holes and then continued to surge birdieing the difficult 4th, the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th holes to turn in 8-under 27 and 7-under for the tournament.
Early on the back nine with the galleries growing seemingly with each swing, Furyk kept building momentum with birdies falling on Nos. 10, 11 and 12 for an astounding seven birdies in a row that put the 2003 U.S. Open champion at 11-under for the day and 10-under for the tournament.
In 2013 Furyk shot a 59 at the BMW Championship birdieing two of the last three holes, now just a few years later he had a chance for the PGA Tour's first ever 58 with still six holes remaining.
"Had I not shot 59 before I probably would have been thinking 59, the barrier, but the fact that I did it three years ago in the back of my mind I got six holes to go and if I play them under-par I am going to break another barrier," said Furyk of his mindset after reaching 11-under for the day.
Furyk burned the edge of the cup with a birdie try on the 14th and then saw a seven-footer spin out on the short par-4 15th. With holes running out Furyk hit the green on the par-3 16th and then snaked in a 23-footer for the birdie that moved him to 12-under for the day.
On the 17th Furyk hit less then driver off the tee and grinded out a par before two-putting his way into the history books on the 18th. "A lot can go wrong on 17," the 17-time PGA Tour winner said, "so getting the ball in the fairway was key. I hit one in the water earlier in the week."
All told the final round 12-under 58 included 10 birdies, an eagle and no bogeys. Furyk finished the tournament 12-under moving up 65 spots on the final day to finish in a share for fifth.
"Just cool," Furyk said shaking his head as he thought back to the scene exciting the 18th green, "Again not a golf course that I have played a lot, the last two times I was here 2011 and 2001 so kind of wanted to take it all in and get a good luck and enjoy it."
Remember when fellow Callaway player Phil Mickelson
narrowly missed a 15 foot putt for 62 -- the lowest
score in a major -- at the Open Championship? Today
Furyk had the luxury of two putts at the last for his
historic feat. He gave 57 a good run, made the one foot
putt for the all-time record, got the golf world buzzing.
Saying Furyk is happy with his Callaway equipment and
ball is putting it lightly. Here are the clubs that were in
his bag:
* Great Big Bertha Driver (9*) - Oban Tour Limited 75
Shaft
* Big Bertha Alpha 816 Fairway Wood (14*) - Fujikura
8.2x Shaft
* X2 Hot Pro Hybrid (20*) - UST VTS 100 HS Stiff
Shaft
* Callaway RAZR X Forged Irons (4-PW) - KBS Tour
115R
Shafts
* Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Wedge (50*, S Grind) - True
Temper DG
S400 Shaft
* Titleist 56* Wedge - True Temper DG S400
Shaft
* Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Wedge (60*) - True Temper
DG S400 Shaft
* Odyssey Versa #1 Wide Putter (White/Black/White)
* A Chrome Soft Golf Ball
Furyk's driver is set to a Neutral directional bias and
Standard loft adjustability. And the adjustable
perimeter weighting is set close to the Neutral setting.
He says he really likes the look, and his start lines on
his shots are very good. Furyk first put the driver in
play last year, and he has been very pleased with the
ball flight and ease of shot-making with this driver. And
he likes that his draws and fades have been consistent.
He's been playing a Chrome Soft Golf Ball this year,
and he likes the spin and control that it gives him off
of his short irons and wedges, and around the greens.
To learn more about all of the clubs Furyk used, visit
www.callawaygolf.com