Birdie-birdie finish lifts Furyk's spirit -- and hopes

By T.J. Auclair, PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer

OAKMONT, Pa. -- Making a birdie on a tough course is sweet for any golfer. Making two to close out a round to sneak back into one of golf's four most prestigious tournaments on arguably the most difficult course in the United States is priceless.

In just two holes, Jim Furyk went from teetering on the edge of contention to right into the hunt in the 107th U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Furyk, winner of the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields and a co-runner-up last year at Winged Foot, was upset after a three-putt bogey at the 16th hole, but followed it up with two birdies to shoot an even-par 70. At 6-over-par 216, he trails leader Aaron Baddeley by four shots with 18 holes left to play.

"If I would have shot 70 and finished bogey-bogey, I probably would have been disappointed," said Furyk, who happens to be a hometown favorite of sorts, having been born in West Chester, Pa., which is about 5 hours from Oakmont. "But to come in there birdie-birdie, it makes you feel good coming off the last green. It definitely took the sting out, birdieing the last two, and I was three back of the lead when I finished.

"So I put myself in good position for the golf tournament. I'm happy with the finish, and hopefully I can hit the ball the same way tomorrow and knock in some more putts and put some heat on those guys."

Furyk got off to a rough start on Saturday with a bogey on the first hole, but bounced back with birdies on Nos. 4 and 7 before a bogey at No. 9 put him at even par for the day at the turn.

"I kept the ball in the fairways, from about No. 4 on, gave myself opportunities, and hit a few bad putts and hit a few good ones that didn't go in," said Furyk, who hit all but three fairways and needed 30 putts.

Furyk has finished in the top-10 in 15 majors, but said he hasn't been involved in too many where at 3, 4, 5 or 6 over par with 18 holes to play he felt like he still had a good chance to win.

At Winged Foot in 2006 and here at Oakmont this week, Furyk said he's enjoyed the set up of the course despite the degree of difficulty.

"Rarely do you see golf professionals shooting 74, 75 and coming off the golf course and no one is complaining the course is set up poorly," he said. "We've heard that in the past, and the scores aren't as high as they are this year. So I think they've done a good job with the setups, and we're always the first to complain, and I've said it in the press that I thought Winged Foot was set up well, and I think they've done a good job at Oakmont. I hope it keeps up tomorrow."

When Furyk won in 2003, he finished at 8 under par for the week -- it was the only time he's ever finished a U.S. Open under par. The last time the U.S. Open was played at Oakmont in 1994 -- a far different track back then with plenty of trees, as opposed to the 2007 set-up in which trees are as scarce as birdies -- Furyk finished at 8 over par to tie for 28th. Going into the final round here, 8 over is tied for 13th.

Furyk's experience and record can't be understated heading into the final round. However, he knows that the experience doesn't always yield the results.

"Having Tiger Woods [4 over par, two shots off the lead] leading or close to the lead, you know he's the favorite and you all are picking him," Furyk said. "And most of the guys that are playing against him have their eye on him. So, there's a lot of good players. Geoff Ogilvy had never won a major, either, and he was clutch down the stretch last year. So there's a lot of guys with tournament experience that are hungry."

There are few certainties in the game of golf, but with the way things are going at Oakmont it's a safe bet that despite the hunger of a lot of guys, no one will be feasting on birdies Sunday.