Furyk wants action, not practice

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Jim Furyk hopes to play himself back into form ahead of The Open rather than return to the drawing board and practice tee.

Jim Furyk hopes to play himself back into form ahead of The Open rather than return to the drawing board and work things out on the practice tee.

The former US Open champion made that clear here in Cromwell, Connecticut on Wednesday when he spoke to the media ahead of this week US Travelers Championship.

The 42-year-old Furyk has been having a quiet year, having had only two top 10 finishes so far, and as if to underline his slide into mediocrity, missed the cut at the US Open last week and is convinced that playing competitive golf right now is the key to contending for The Open at Royal St George’s in less than a month’s time.

“I have played well here at times,” said Furyk the owner of a self-taught looping back swing that is as effective as it is unusual, “and I think playing three weeks running is what I need to do.

“When we are not playing well, you have to keep playing. You can’t go home and practice and get better. You need tournament conditions. I feel this is the best event for my game and the best event already not in my schedule.”

Currently 19th in the world rankings following last week’s difficulties at Congressional, Furyk conceded: “The strength of my game is from a 100 yards and in.
“I haven’t putted well this year, that’s no secret, but to just blame it on my putting would be chickening out a little bit.

“I don’t feel like I did anything all that wrong last week at the US Open. I don’t feel by any means I should have missed the cut, but I’m not scoring well enough.”

Another high profile golfer who wants to get in more playing time is Australian Geoff Ogilvy who is battling to rediscover his A game after a shoulder problem suffered before the Masters in April.
He managed a tie for fourth at Augusta but has struggled since and has been surpassed by young gun Jason Day as his country’s No 1 golfer.

Day has finished second in both majors played so farm The Masters and The US Open.

“There were tournaments I have missed that I really like,” Ogilvy told the Middletown Press. “Ultimately, it is frustrating really, just watching these golf tournaments on TV.

“Normally I play a lot through the US Open but I’ve hardly played, so I’m desperate for a game.”

Other draw cards challenging for the events $6million at River Highlands include Europeans Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter and American Bubba Watson, who is the defending champion.

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