Can Jim Furyk Hold On To Win The Deutsche Bank Championship?

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Jim Furyk has had a successful career by anyone’s standards.

Thirteen PGA Tour wins, one major championship, more than $41 million in career earnings, and all this despite a swing that looks about as pretty as a drive down the New Jersey Turnpike.

Furyk has been the epitome of a work horse throughout his 17 year career.  He’s not flashy, he doesn’t hit the ball very far, he doesn’t have a Mickelson-esque flop shot in his arsenal and he doesn’t have much of a fan base.

He meticulously goes about his business while not worry about what anyone else is doing, or how anyone else plays the game.

J.B. Holmes might approach a 590 yard par five by blasting a 350 yard drive, hitting an iron onto the green and then two putting for birdie.  Furyk would approach the same hole by hitting his drive right down the middle of the fairway, laying up to the perfectly location, hitting a wedge to around five feet, after which he would calmly roll in the putt for a birdie of his own.

Furyk relies on accuracy and intelligent course management to compete.  The only problem is that the accuracy part of his game decided to up and leave him in 2008.

In 2006, when he had two wins and 13 top-tens, Furyk ranked fourth on tour in Greens in regulation (GIR) and eighth in driving accuracy.

In 2007, when he had one win and eight top-tens, Furyk ranked sixth in GIR and third in driving accuracy.

Then, sometime between late 2007 and early 2008, Furyk lost hold of the one aspect of his game that he’s built a successful career around—accuracy.

Furyk ranked 28th in driving accuracy and 48th in GIR during the 2008 season.

In 2009, things have gotten worse.  Furyk currently ranks 25th in driving accuracy and 111th in GIR.

As the accuracy went out the door, so to did Furyk’s ability to win golf tournaments—he hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since the 2007 Canadian Open.

So, how is Furyk tied for the lead with Sean O’Hair after 54-holes at the Deutsche Bank Championship, which is being held in Norton, MA?

Well, it’s quite simple really. 

Furyk has hit 82 percent of fairways and 91.7 percent of greens in regulation during his first two rounds, which is the main reason why he has posted rounds of 63 and 67.  

That’s Jim Furyk’s game, and despite the course playing a long 7,304 yards, bombers such as Dustin Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy, and Angel Cabrera are currently trailing him on the leaderboard.

“I struck the ball so well, and I didn't expect to go out there and hit 13 fairways and 18 greens today,” Furyk said after his second round 67.  “I was able to—you know, I hit a few bad shots, got loose once in a while but was able to score well all day.”

The Deutsche Bank Championship has so far been a birdie fest, so Furyk will need to keep his foot on the accelerator as some big names such as Goosen, Leonard, Weir, Ogilvy, Cabrera, and Harrington attempt to catch him.

“You've got to look at a golf tournament as a round of golf, and I just kind of finished up the front nine right now,” Furyk said.  “There's a lot to go, and no reason to not be aggressive or not to keep your foot down.”

Will Furyk be able to get it done this week?

If he continues to hit as many fairways and greens as he has during the opening two rounds, why the heck not?

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