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 Relying on a loopy, unconventional but technically sound swing, Jim Furyk stiffed a pitching wedge on the 14th hole to seal his U.S Open win
By Brad Redding
Jim Furyk's game looks bizarre to the average golfer, but his techniques make perfect sense. Using the left-hand-low (a.k.a. cross-handed) putting grip helps Furyk go straight back and through, so his putter face is square at impact. Also, his idiosyncratic preshot routines keep him focused. Before each swing he hitches his pants with his right hand, Arnold Palmer-like, and before every putt he reads the line, addresses the ball, steps away and then goes through the routine again. But Furyk's most unorthodox action is his swing. Most pros rotate their forearms during the takeaway and keep the club the same angle from start to finish. Furyk does not turn his forearms, which causes the club to be upright during his backswing. This unique action is the foundation of Furyk's solid ball striking because it forces him, during the transition to the downswing, to loop his club back to a new, but perfect, plane. In winning the U.S. Open, Furyk ranked first in greens in regulation (74%) and second in driving accuracy (70%). His best shot on Sunday came at the par-4 14th hole, where he stiffed a drawing 125-yard wedge (above) to set up the final birdie that ended any suspense. With his lead back to four shots over Stephen Leaney, Furyk coasted home for his much-deserved first major title.
Brad Redding, 41, teaches at Hartefeld National in Avondale, Pa., and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Issue date: June 23, 2003
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Courtesy of NBC
