Jim Furyk wins Transitions Championship

Jim Furyk overcame his nerves to win the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Florida by a single shot over Korea’s K.J. Choi.

Jim Furyk
Fergus Bisset
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Jim Furyk overcame his nerves to win the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Florida by a single shot over Korea's K.J. Choi.

The American had not won on the PGA Tour since the 2007 Canadian Open and the pressure on Furyk to end that winless streak was apparent towards the conclusion of the tournament.

Taking a two shot lead into the final hole, Furyk drove into the trees then almost hit on-course commentator Roger Maltbie with his second. He had to make a good two-putt for a bogey to win by one.

"I have a habit of making it tough on myself," Furyk said. "Just nerves got me, to be honest with you."

K.J. Choi played a solid final round of 67 and, although he was disappointed not to secure the victory, he could console himself with the fact his second place finish moved him up to 47th on the Official World Golf Ranking, giving him a good chance of receiving an invite to The Masters.

"I've exceeded my expectations," he said. "All I can say is I will try my best next week to maintain or better that position."

Bubba Watson made a charge at the lead on the back nine but the long-hitting left-hander came up just short and had to settle for third place.

Luke Donald was the best European finisher in tied sixth while Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Carl Pettersson of Sweden were in a four-way tie for eighth place.

Transitions Championship Innisbrook, Florida Mar 18-21, purse $5,400,000, par 71

1    Jim Furyk (USA)        67    68    67    69    271    $972,000 2    K.J. Choi (Kor)        69    69    67    67    272    $583,200 3    Bubba Watson (USA)    70    65    70    68    273    $367,200 4    Nick Watney (USA)    73    70    65    67    275    $259,200 5    Retief Goosen (RSA)    67    68    70    71    276    $216,000 T6    Stephen Ames (Can)    69    71    70    67    277    $187,650 T6    Luke Donald (Eng)    71    68    67    71    277    $187,650 T8    Jonathan Byrd (USA)    67    70    70    71    278    $145,800 T8    Padraig Harrington (Ire) 69    65    72    72    278    $145,800 T8    Nick O'Hern (Aus)    72    68    67    71    278    $145,800 T8    Carl Pettersson (Swe)    67    68    70    73    278    $145,800 T8    Steve Stricker (USA)    70    66    71    71    278    $145,800

Note: Player scores in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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