Chicago Sun-Times

Jim Furyk stays out front, but Steve Stricker in pursuit after third round

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 02:43:47 -0500

LAKE FOREST — Steve Stricker did something he almost never does — pick a number. The Wisconsin native didn’t hit his goal of an 8-under 63 on Saturday, but he did give himself a chance to win the BMW Championship and, perhaps, the FedEx Cup. Fueled by an eagle on the par-4 15th, Stricker closed with a 31 on the back nine at Conway Farms Golf Club to post a 7-under 64. That number — second only to Matt Kuchar’s 61 — put him at 12 under, just one shot behind leader Jim Furyk. ‘‘You know, I had a number …

Stenson on brink of huge payday

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 02:41:27 -0500

ATLANTA — Stepping in from rain that ruined his rhythm and the back end of his round Saturday, Henrik Stenson was more interested in looking forward at the Tour Championship. He still had a four-stroke lead. He was one round from capturing two trophies worth $11.44 million, including the FedEx Cup. Stenson just made the final day of the PGA Tour season a little more interesting during the last two hours of his third round at East Lake. He had a nine-stroke lead at the turn and walked off the 18th green with a three-putt bogey and his lead back …

Zach Johnson wins BMW Championship

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 22:41:51 -0500

Zach Johnson won the rain-delayed BMW Championship at Conway Farms on Monday, finishing 16 under for the tournament.

Jim Furyk shoots a 69, good enough for a one-stroke lead at BMW Championship

Sat, 14 Sep 2013 17:56:01 -0500

Jim Furyk put his 59 behind him with a round that was 10 shots higher Saturday in the BMW Championship. Now all he wants is a trophy. Furyk recovered from a sluggish start with three birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn. A three-putt bogey from 30 feet on the par-5 18th forced him to settle for a 2-under 69 and a one-shot lead over Steve Stricker. It was a far different finish from Friday, when Furyk hit a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on his final hole (No. 9) for a 12-under 59, becoming only the sixth …

Co-leader Jim Furyk is Chi-high after 59 in BMW

Sat, 14 Sep 2013 02:15:26 -0500

His kind of town, Chicago is. On a blustery Friday at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Jim Furyk made history, shooting 59 at the BMW Championship. He’s the sixth player to shoot the lowest round in a PGA Tour event. Furyk, who won the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields and the 2005 Western Open at Cog Hill, now has another memorable moment for his Chicago-area highlight reel. ‘‘[Conway Farms] will definitely always have a special place in my heart,’’ said Furyk, who ranked this round with his U.S. Open triumph and Team USA’s Ryder Cup victory at Brookline. ‘‘This …

BMW Championship makes a great course for Chicago’s golf appetite

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 19:10:56 -0500

How low the scores will go at the BMW Championship, which begins Thursday at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, is difficult to say. ‘‘You can shoot 62 or 76,’’ said Barrington native Scott Langley, adding that wind — or lack of it — will be a big factor at the 7,149-yard, par-71 layout. ‘‘The wind can come up out of nowhere in Chicago. You’re not totally exposed to it, but the wind swirling in and out of the trees sometimes can wreak havoc.’’ Then again, in the six years since the Western Open name yielded to a German automaker, the …

Tiger Woods title-ready for BMW Championship

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 20:40:35 -0500

HERB GOULD: He’s won a pair of PGAs at Medinah and four trophies at Cog Hill. Tiger Woods will try to add another title here on Thursday when the BMW Championship debuts at its new venue, Conway Farms in Lake Forest.

Jim Furyk leads PGA, but many have a shot

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:55:43 -0500

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Nobody has this PGA in their hip pocket heading into the final round of the season’s final major. But Jonas Blixt landed his drive on No. 18 in the back pocket of a spectator. “I didn’t have to play it from there,’’ said Blixt, who took a drop, then hit a dazzling 5-iron to three feet for birdie. That unusual finish capped a 66 that put the sassy Blixt among a large contingent of players who will be chasing leader Jim Furyk at Oak Hill. “Did it plug?’’ Blixt quipped. “A friend of my father hit someone …

Tiger Woods has stiff neck, back from hotel bed

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 13:10:01 -0500

Another week, another nagging injury for Tiger Woods — this from a soft bed in his hotel. Woods did not play the back nine of his pro-am Wednesday at The Barclays. He still walked with his amateur partners, but only chipped and putted at Liberty National.

Birdies on Nos. 17, 18 give Rory McIlroy chance to defend title

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:55:56 -0500

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — For the second consecutive day, Rory McIlroy made a dramatic move. One day after making birdie on four of his last seven holes, McIlroy birdied three of his last six Saturday, including birdies on the difficult 17th and 18th holes. Finishing with a 67, the defending PGA champion is 3 under par, six shots off the lead, and thinking about making a run. “It’s getting there,’’ said McIlroy, trying to rekindle the game that has won two majors in the last three years. “It was good to feel the rush again.’’ Tiger? Phil? Don’t ask In an …

A first-timer’s crash course on Old Course

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:47:30 -0500

HERB GOULD: After watching two of my playing partners bang their tee shots off the Old Course Hotel — good thing they use golf-ball-proof glass — I decided to take the Road Hole less traveled, around the left side of that landmark inn rather than over the corner of the hotel.

Jason Dufner leads PGA after record-tying 63

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 06:12:58 -0500

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — When Webb Simpson shot a 64 on Friday morning, he tied the Oak Hill course record, which had stood for nearly a quarter-century. The 2012 U.S. Open champion was able to enjoy the moment for only a quarter of a day. Jason Dufner fired a 63 in the afternoon, becoming the 24th golfer to tie the record for the lowest round shot in a major. That 7-under par performance gave the low-keyed former Auburn star a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the PGA Championship. ‘‘It was a good day to get out there and score,’’ …

Woods, Mickelson know they must pick up the pace

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 06:13:00 -0500

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Tiger Woods (1 over par) and Phil Mickelson (2 over) know they’ll need to play lights-out this weekend to have a chance in the PGA Championship. ‘‘I need to hit it better than I have,’’ Woods said Friday. ‘‘I have to go out there and post something in the mid to low 60s, like some of the guys did today. It definitely can be done.’’ ‘‘I struggled these first two days, for sure,’’ Mickelson said. ‘‘I have to shoot 6 or 7 under par tomorrow to have a chance on Sunday.’’ Rory roars On the brink of …

Jim Furyk finds form, shares lead after first round of PGA

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 20:59:01 -0500

Jim Furyk has seized the lead at the PGA Championship with a 5-under 65 in the opening round. Tiger Woods played his first nine holes at 2-under 33. But he finished with a double-bogey for a disappointing 71.

VIDEO: Jim Furyk on leading at PGA Championship

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 15:56:00 -0500

Jim Furyk talks about the scoring conditions at the PGA Championship.

PGA Championship — the final major of the year — will provide a tremendous test

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 06:37:52 -0500

Have your pencil and scorecard ready. Oakmont, which has hosted eight U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, is the one in suburban Pittsburgh famous for Church Pew bunkers and fans jeering Jack Nicklaus when he defeated Arnold Palmer in the 1962 U.S. Open, Nicklaus’ first major title. Oakland Hills, which has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGAs and a Ryder Cup, is the one in suburban Detroit. Oak Meadows, where Ben Hogan won the 1941 Chicago Open, is the one in west suburban Addison that floods regularly and lost its majestic clubhouse to lightning. The one that matters this week …