Jim Furyk continued a Memorial tradition by jarring a shot from a greenside
bunker in the final round to win the tournament
Courtesy of CBS
By Mike
Bender
One of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers
AFTER PAUL AZINGER holed a shot from the greenside bunker
at 18 to win the 1993 Memorial, the trap became known as the Azinger Bunker.
Likewise, the bunker abutting the right side of the par-5 15th should herewith
be called the Furyk Bunker in honor of Jim Furyk's hole out from there on
Sunday. Having birdied 14 to tie for the lead with David Peoples at 12 under,
Furyk short-sided his three-wood second shot at 15 into the bunker. Furyk's lie
was so difficult, he said, "I would've been happy to get the ball to within
10 feet." Using a 60-degree lob wedge, Furyk shifted his weight toward the
target and nipped the ball perfectly (above left). It landed 15 feet
short of the flagstick and rolled in for eagle (above right). Furyk then
birdied 16 and coasted to a two-shot victory over John Cook and
Peoples.
GOLDEN OLDIES Not only did 45-year-old Nick Price's recent victory at the
Colonial prove that you don't have to have pimples to win on Tour, but his win
also must have lit a fire under some of his peers. Three fortysomethings
finished in the top four at the Memorial: Cook, 44, birdied three of the last
seven holes to tie for second; Peoples, 42, also tied for second after briefly
leading on the back nine on Sunday; and Bob Tway, 43, led after three rounds and
tied for
fourth.
PEOPLES'S CHOICE I was pulling for Peoples because he was a good friend during my
three-year stint on Tour, from 1987 through '89. We played practice rounds and
ate together, and back home in Orlando we often teamed up in tennis against two
other pros, Roy Biancalana and Steve Lowery. Peeps and I lost our Tour cards
several times. I finally gave up in 1990 and began teaching, but he persevered.
Peeps never finished higher than 169th on the money list from 1995 through '99.
"Things got so low, I seriously considered quitting and getting a job in
the real world," he says. With the $395,000 he won on Sunday, he's 25th in
earnings and a lock to keep his card. Peeps never quit, and while I'm thrilled
for my buddy, his rejuvenation makes me wonder where I'd be if I'd had his
determination.
Mike Bender 45, runs the Mike Bender Golf Academy at Timacuan Golf Club in
Lake Mary, Fla.,
and is one of Golf Magazine's Top 100
Teachers.
Courtesy of CBS
