U.S. Open: Ranking the 25 Most Dominant Performances in History
By Bill Felber
8. Jim Furyk, 2003, Olympia Fields, -2.94
Jim Furyk was a 33-year-old tour veteran with seven championships to his credit when the U.S. Open championship opened at Olympia Fields outside Chicago. To his fellow pros, Furyk’s best asset had always been his steadiness and his unflappability.
But his major championship pedigree was not as distinguished, the bests showings being ties for fourth at the 1997 and 1998 British Opens and the 1998 Masters.
Beyond that, the presence of defending champion Tiger Woods in the field deflected attention from any other plausible contenders.
Woods stared well enough, standing four-under par through 36 holes. But that was only good for a tie for fifth, three strokes behind Furyk’s 67-66.
Woods failed to mount a Saturday charge, managing only a 75 to drop out of contention. Furyk meanwhile posted another 67 to lead Stephen Leaney by three. With no pressure from Woods, Furyk held steady on Sunday while Leaney offset four birdies with six bogeys. His lead growing to five strokes through 11 holes, Furyk was able to withstand bogeys on the final two holes to win by three.
“I had control of my swing and my emotions,” Furyk remarked of his performance.
Woods was among Furyk’s fellow pros saluting his breakthrough win. “The guy is, day in and day out, always pretty consistent,” Woods said.