Sunday, March 21, 2010

Jim Furyk wins Transitions Championship in Florida

The overnight leader was two clear of playing partner KJ Choi going up the last but produced a mis-hit second shot after finding the trees off the tee.The 2003 US Open champion stayed calm to make a bogey for a 14th Tour title.He ended 13 under with Choi (67) second and Bubba Watson (68) two adrift, while Padraig Harrington ended six under.The 39-year-old Furyk said of his second shot - a shank - on 18: "Nerves got me, to be honest with you. I have a habit of making it tough for myself."The only time I haven't was the US Open."After a thunderstorm delay of almost four hours at the Copperhead course at Palm Harbor's Innisbrook Resort, Furyk began the final day with a lead of three shots.But four birdies in five holes from the second by twice winner Choi cancelled out the advantage.Furyk responded with birdies of his own at the eighth, 10th and 12th to forge three clear again and he added another birdie at 14, though this was sandwiched by bogey fours.Pars on the 16th and 17th gave the Ryder Cup veteran the two-stroke cushion he needed as Choi parred the last.Furyk, who shot 69, had not won since the Canadian Open in 2007, a span of 58 tournaments. It had also been nearly three years since he last held the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.England's Luke Donald carded 71 to put him in a tie for sixth on seven under, while Harrington, the halfway leader, climbed back to joint second with an opening birdie, but fell back to joint eighth after a one-over 72.Justin Rose shot 71 for a share of 13th place at five under but remains outside the world's top 50 a week before they are invited to the Masters at Augusta.The former European number one, who was third at the Honda Classic two weeks ago, will try again in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill starting on Thursday.

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