Early Career
Furyk's first career win came in 1995 at the Las Vegas Invitational, a tournament he would prove victorious at on two other occasions (1998 and 1999). Furyk also won the 1996 Hawaiian Open, giving him four victories in his initial decade of play. Furyk's unconventional swing was questioned by several analysts early in his career, but he was never urged to change by his father and swing coach, Mike Furyk. The elder Furyk is a former club pro at Uniontown Country Club, located an hour south of Pittsburgh.
PGA Tour
Having earned over $41 million as of July 2009, Furyk has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. He prevailed in at least one tournament in each season from 1998 to 2003. Furyk spent over 270 weeks in the top 10 of the Official Worldwide Golf Rankings from 1999 to 2008, reaching as high as the second spot. In addition to the 2003 U.S. Open, Furyk's other notable wins include the 2002 Memorial Tournament and the Wachovia Championship in 2006.
Major Championships
Furyk's win at the 2003 U.S. Open currently stands as his only major championship in 2009 but he's been near the top of the leaderboard numerous times. Furyk has accumulated 10 top-five finishes, including a tie for second in back-to-back years at the U.S. Open in 2006 and 2007. Furyk has at least four top-10 finishes in each of the four major championships, proving the versatility and consistency of his game.
Ryder Cup
As a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team for the last six events, Furyk has compiled a record of 8-13-3 in Ryder Cup play. However, he's thrived in singles matches with a record of 4-1-1. Furyk has been a part of two winning American teams, including the 2008 squad that snapped a string of three consecutive losses to the Europeans.
Personal
Furyk currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida along with his wife, Tabitha, and their two children. Furyk is a supporter of several charities and recently raised $45,000 for the Play Golf American Foundation at Ohio State University. Additionally, Furyk hosts the Exelon Invitational on a yearly basis, which has generated over $1 million for local charities in the Philadelphia area.
About The Author
Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft, college football and PGA Tour. Since 2004, his analysis has been simulcast through several media outlets across the country including ESPN and Fox Sports.