Relief for Furyk, hope for McDowell at Harbour Town
Jim Furyk celebrates as Kevin Kisner looks on helplessly
Seven weeks after 43-year old Pádraig Harrington ended a seven-year PGA Tour drought, 44-year old Jim Furyk out an end to a 100-event winless run with a stunning play-off victory over Kevin KIsner in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
The 2003 US Open champion, who claimed the 16th win of his career when he captured the 2010 Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, was 0-of-9 when leading tournaments after three rounds since that day in Atlanta.
He wasn’t leading this time but his relief at finally getting over the line was palpable after he’d fired an eight under 63 to set the target
For a while it looked as though Kisner wouldn’t go away as he birdied the 72nd hole to shoot 64 and force the playoff and made another birdie on their return to the 18th for the first extra hole.
Furyk was forced to reply with a birdie of his own to keep the playoff going but after Kisner missed a birdie chance on the par-three 17th, Furyk sank a 12-footer for his 17th career PGA Tour victory.
Such was the relief and the ecstasy that the usually reserved grinder from Pittsburgh suburbs dropped his putter and punched the air with venom.
"I think getting excited on 17 there was a lot of pent-up frustrations," Furyk said.
“I was starting to feel like this game is beating me up, and the losing hurts a lot more than winning feels good. I think I just forget how goo [it feels to win.]”
It was Furyk’s second win at Harbour Tour as overnight leader Troy Merritt fell to third after a 69.
Masters champion Jordan Spieth ended a marathon five-tournament stretch with a 70 worth a share of 11th.
As for Graeme McDowell, he said he appears to have found the thread of his game again at Hilton Head despite carding a 72 to slip to tied 26th.
