Jim Furyk: Pro Golfer Bio and Career Highlights

Updated July 19, 2021
Jim Furyk and caddie Fluff Cowan
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    Jim Furyk and caddie Fluff Cowan
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Jim Furyk has been a constant fixture in the professional golf world since turning pro in 1992. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1970, Furyk is known for his unorthodox swing, which has helped him compile 17 PGA Tour wins, including the 2003 U.S. Open.

Jim Furyk Career Highlights

Furyk's first career win came in 1995 at the Las Vegas Invitational, a tournament he would go on to win three times (1998, ’99). Furyk also won the 1996 Hawaiian Open, giving him four victories in the 1990s.

Furyk has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. He spent over 270 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings from 1999 to 2008, reaching as high as the second spot.

Furyk qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs 11 times, and as of July 2021, has made 511 cuts in 632 starts, which means he made the cut 80% of the time.

As of July 2021, Furyk is No. 4 on the All-Time PGA Tour Career Earnings list at $73,753,079. In 16 events on the PGA Tour Champions, Furyk has made $2,211,130.

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Jim Furyk Career Wins

Between the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, Furyk has accumulated 20 victories. In addition to the wins listed below, Furyk won once on the Sunshine Tour, once on the Nike Tour, once on the South American Tour, and six times in other unofficial events, including two PGA Grand Slam of Golf titles.

Year Tournament Tour
1995 Las Vegas Invitational PGA Tour
1996 Hawaiian Open PGA Tour
1998 Las Vegas Invitational PGA Tour
1999 Las Vegas Invitational PGA Tour
2000 Doral-Ryder Open PGA Tour
2001 Mercedes Championships PGA Tour
2002 Memorial PGA Tour
2003 Buick Open PGA Tour
2003 U.S. Open PGA Tour
2005 Western Open PGA Tour
2006 Wachovia Championship PGA Tour
2006 Canadian Open PGA Tour
2007 Canadian Open PGA Tour
2010 Transitions Championship PGA Tour
2010 Verizon Heritage PGA Tour
2010 TOUR Championship PGA Tour
2015 RBC Heritage PGA Tour
2020 The Ally Challenge Champions
2020 PURE Insurance Championship Champions
2021 U.S. Senior Open Champions
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PGA Tour Champions

Furyk made his debut on the PGA Tour Champions in 2020 when he competed in 16 events without missing a cut. On the Champions Tour, Furyk has amassed three wins, one second-place finish, and 10 top-10s and hasn’t finished outside the top 20.

Furyk won the first two Champions Tour events he entered, The Ally Challenge and at the PURE Insurance Championship, in 2020.

Most recently, Furyk earned his first Senior major championship, winning the U.S. Senior Open Championship, shooting 7-under par, 273 for a 3-stroke win. He became the player and second consecutive (Steve Stricker) to win the U.S. Senior Open in his debut.

Major Championships

While Furyk only has two majors under his belt, he's been near the top of the leaderboard numerous times. Furyk has accumulated four runner-up finishes, including three at the U.S. Open and one at the PGA Championship in his career. He has 23 top-10s in majors, including four at the Masters, seven at the U.S. Open, and six at each the Open Championship and PGA Championship.

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Furyk shows his scorecard after shooting 58
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    Furyk shoes his scorecard after shooting 58
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Jim Furyk’s 58

On top of being one of the most consistent players on Tour, Furyk also holds the record for the lowest round of golf on the PGA Tour. On August 7, 2016, Furyk fired off a 12-under par 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship to beat his former score of 59 that previously tied the record.

Furyk hit all 18 greens in regulation that Sunday and was the only player to accomplish that feat that day. That round was also Furyk’s 207th bogey-free round, the most on Tour since 1994. Furyk began the day 1-over par for the tournament and catapoulted into a tie for 5th with the record-setting round.

The performance was worth nearly a quarter-million dollars in earnings, as Furyk cashed a $231,825 check that week while Scott Pinckney, who finished where Furyk started, at 1-over par, left with $13,332.

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Ryder Cup & Presidents Cup

Furyk has been on nine U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1997,1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014) where he has compiled a 10-20-4 overall record. Furyk is second all-time in U.S. Ryder Cup appearances, trailing only Phil Mickelson’s 11 appearances.

Furyk served as the assistant captain to Davis Love III in the 2016 Ryder Cup when the United States defeated Europe for the first time since 2008. Most recently, Furyk captained the 2018 Ryder Cup team, as the United States lost 10 ½ to 17 ½ to the Europeans. He will return as an assistant captain for the 2021 Ryder Cup to help the U.S. Captain Steve Stricker.

Furyk also played on seven Presidents Cup teams (1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011), compiling a 20-10-3 overall record. He served as assistant captain in the 2015 and 2017 Presidents Cups. Furyk ranks behind only Tiger Woods in all-time Presidents Cup matches won at 20. He is also tied four other golfers for most matches won in one year at five.

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Furyk's Caddie "Fluff" Cowan

Since the 1999 Masters Tournament, Furyk has had one man carrying his bag and that’s Michael “Fluff” Cowan. The duo have collected 17 wins together and are still going strong. Cowan was there for the 58 in 2016, the 2003 U.S. Open and most recently the 2021 U.S. Senior Open. Born on Feb. 7, 1948, the caddie is one of the most recognizable in golf and has caddied for the likes of Ed Sabo (1976-78),Peter Jacobson (1978-96), Tiger Woods (1996-99). He also caddied for the then-13-year-old Michelle Wie for one tournament while Furyk was off due to injury.

Furyk’s Unconventional Swing

Furyk's unconventional swing is notorious throughout golf. Early on in his career it was questioned by several analysts, but he was never urged to change by his father and only swing coach, Mike Furyk. His swing and Furyk’s approach to the game earned him nicknames like “The Grinder” and “The Businessman.”

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Personal

Furyk resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida along with his wife, Tabitha, and their two children, Caleigh Lynn and Tanner James. He received the 2016 Payne Stewart Award and in 2015 received the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award.

Furyk and his wife founded The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation that is involved in various projects throughout North Florida and supports multiple charities like Operation Shower, Blessings in a Backpack, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Community PedsCare, MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation and the Monique Burr Foundation.