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CNN Sunday Morning
Jim Furyk Shoots 3 Under Par Yesterday at U.S. Open
Aired June 15, 2003 - 09:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Golfer Jim Furyk is certainly on fire at the U.S. Open championship in Olympia Fields, Illinois. He shot an amazing 3 under par yesterday and now holds the record low for a 54-hole total at a U.S. Open.
CNN Sports' Josie Karp is following the little white ball and joins us now from Olympia Fields with a look at today's final round. Good morning, Josie.
JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Renay. You know, Jim Furyk might be one of the best players on the PGA tour, but he's probably not one of the best-known players. In fact, his caddy could be even more recognizable than he is. That's because he's got Fluff Cowen on the bag, and he used to caddy for Tiger Woods.
Furyk has won seven times on the PGA tour. And today, he will try to win his first major.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM FURYK, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: I consider myself a very hard worker and a guy that can grind it out in tough conditions. You know, if things turn bad, I'm a guy that doesn't quit. So I guess, you know, I won't -- if I get over par early in the tournament, I won't just throw the towel in and make a plane reservation for Friday night. I'll work harder to try to come back and squeak it out, make the cut. That's just me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: Furyk has played well in major championships before. In fact, he's finished in the top ten about a dozen times. But he has never been in this situation before. Going into the final round on Sunday with a big lead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FURYK: If, ten years from now, I hadn't won, I can accept that and I'll be fine. But obviously, our goal is to go out and win golf tournaments and win major championships. That's how we're judged, and that's what I work hard for. That's what I've wanted to do since I was a kid. Just like everyone else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: Because this is a new situation for Jim Furyk, playing in the final round on Sunday of the major, the question is really, how is he going to deal with the pressure?
To get a little insight into that, I want to read you something that Tiger Woods said about Jim Furyk, not this week, but a couple weeks ago. He said, no one gives Jim enough credit for how tough he is mentally. Down the stretch, he's not going to make a mistake. He is tough as nails. And certainly, today, the toughness of this 33- year-old will be tested. Renay?
SAN MIGUEL: And, Josie, we don't want to take away from the tremendous golf that Jim Furyk has played this weekend. But what is up with the course, here? Weren't there complaints last year about the U.S. Open and how challenging that course was? Records are being shattered here this weekend.
KARP: Yes, there are two things going on. One, because of all the criticism that the USA had of the way they set up that Bethpage Black course last year, they might have decided, this year we're not going to make that same mistake.
The other thing is the conditions. They were counting on the fact that the weather would be a factor and would make it a little more challenging. We saw some evidence of that a little bit yesterday afternoon, late. And today, it could be a factor again today. The wind is picking up right now. And it's sunnier earlier in the day than it has been any other morning this week, Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right. Looks pretty nice behind you. We'll see how it plays out in the final round. Josie Karp, thanks so much for the report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 15, 2003 - 09:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Golfer Jim Furyk is certainly on fire at the U.S. Open championship in Olympia Fields, Illinois. He shot an amazing 3 under par yesterday and now holds the record low for a 54-hole total at a U.S. Open.
CNN Sports' Josie Karp is following the little white ball and joins us now from Olympia Fields with a look at today's final round. Good morning, Josie.
JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Renay. You know, Jim Furyk might be one of the best players on the PGA tour, but he's probably not one of the best-known players. In fact, his caddy could be even more recognizable than he is. That's because he's got Fluff Cowen on the bag, and he used to caddy for Tiger Woods.
Furyk has won seven times on the PGA tour. And today, he will try to win his first major.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM FURYK, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: I consider myself a very hard worker and a guy that can grind it out in tough conditions. You know, if things turn bad, I'm a guy that doesn't quit. So I guess, you know, I won't -- if I get over par early in the tournament, I won't just throw the towel in and make a plane reservation for Friday night. I'll work harder to try to come back and squeak it out, make the cut. That's just me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: Furyk has played well in major championships before. In fact, he's finished in the top ten about a dozen times. But he has never been in this situation before. Going into the final round on Sunday with a big lead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FURYK: If, ten years from now, I hadn't won, I can accept that and I'll be fine. But obviously, our goal is to go out and win golf tournaments and win major championships. That's how we're judged, and that's what I work hard for. That's what I've wanted to do since I was a kid. Just like everyone else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: Because this is a new situation for Jim Furyk, playing in the final round on Sunday of the major, the question is really, how is he going to deal with the pressure?
To get a little insight into that, I want to read you something that Tiger Woods said about Jim Furyk, not this week, but a couple weeks ago. He said, no one gives Jim enough credit for how tough he is mentally. Down the stretch, he's not going to make a mistake. He is tough as nails. And certainly, today, the toughness of this 33- year-old will be tested. Renay?
SAN MIGUEL: And, Josie, we don't want to take away from the tremendous golf that Jim Furyk has played this weekend. But what is up with the course, here? Weren't there complaints last year about the U.S. Open and how challenging that course was? Records are being shattered here this weekend.
KARP: Yes, there are two things going on. One, because of all the criticism that the USA had of the way they set up that Bethpage Black course last year, they might have decided, this year we're not going to make that same mistake.
The other thing is the conditions. They were counting on the fact that the weather would be a factor and would make it a little more challenging. We saw some evidence of that a little bit yesterday afternoon, late. And today, it could be a factor again today. The wind is picking up right now. And it's sunnier earlier in the day than it has been any other morning this week, Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right. Looks pretty nice behind you. We'll see how it plays out in the final round. Josie Karp, thanks so much for the report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
