Furyk learnt from Birkdale

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A lesson learned at Birkdale last year has helped put Jim Furyk firmly in contention for a first Open Championship title.

A lesson learned at Birkdale last year has helped put former US Open champion Jim Furyk firmly in contention to win his first Open Championship at Turnberry tomorrow (Sunday).
Twelve months ago at Birkdale, Furyk was three shots off the lead at halfway but slumped to a third round of 77, eventually finishing fifth after a closing round of 71.
Furyk made sure he did not repeat that mistake today with a typically steady round of 70 for a one-under-par total of 209.
“I was real pleased with my play and shooting 70 on this golf course today, I felt like I played a real good round,” said the 39-year-old.
“Anyone under par leaped up the leaderboard today, so even par is going to get me closer to the lead, less people in between me and the lead, and give me an opportunity to wake up tomorrow with a chance to win the Open.
“I did a good job of putting the ball in the fairway. I did a good job of making some good saves and some good putts. I putted real well from eight feet and in today.
“I kept my round going at quite a few key moments and that’s what you’ve got to do.
“Last year, I was just reminded, on Saturday on the back nine, I played a very poor nine holes, I kind of knocked myself out of the Open. So I really wanted to focus on the way in today and get it in the house with a pretty good score.”
Furyk won the US Open in 2003 and has had four top-five finishes in the Open, and he feels that experience could be an advantage in tomorrow’s final round.
“I think it’s always a feather in your cap,” the world number nine added. “It’s nice to have that there, memories to lean back on, but it’s going to be a bunched-up leaderboard.
“It’s maybe an advantage when you’re head-to-head with one person, if you have that experience and he doesn’t.
“It doesn’t mean you’re going to win but, when there’s so many guys bunched up at the top of the leaderboard, I’m not sure it really matters that much.”

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