Buick Open preview: Is Furyk really so sound?

So that’s it then. Stick your money on Jim Furyk, open a can of beer, switch on the tele and watch the winnings birdie their way in. That’s what almost everyone seems to be saying and it’s not hard to see why.

Furyk won this in 2003, was second last year and in 2001, and top 10 in the intervening years, against supposedly better quality opposition than he’s facing this year. This season he’s been as good as ever without actually winning anything: second twice including the US Open and three other top 10s.

There’s his renowned accuracy off the tee which, if you’re not Tiger Woods, is pretty much de rigeur at Warwick Hills with its narrow, tree-lined fairways. His distance failings should be of little consequence, despite the rain that’s soaked the course. He’s top 25 with his putter and top 50 for greens in regulation, which could be especially significant given the way the greens have softened, making it possible, even essential to attack the pins.

What’s not to like about Furyk?

Just one thing: that reference I made to ‘without actually winning anything’. Closing the deal has eluded him in sometimes avoidable ways, particularly of course his mistaken club selection on Sunday at the US Open 17th. Okay, this is not the US Open, but the fact that his iron work is no better than top 50, for instance, shows there are weaknesses others can exploit. So yes, Furyk should win. But it’s not as cast iron as it looks.

Although there are no Tigers, Leftys of Vijays around to bother him, there are plenty of players with good credentials for a win. And there’s no reason for Warwick Hills to buck the trend of complete surprises like Hunter Mahan or Woody Austin. Talking of who, Woody’s back in the pack this week. Wonder how well he remembers winning here in 1995? You might say his appetite will have waned after winning three weeks ago and his stats don’t exactly shout winner, but I wouldn’t be so sure.

And if not Woody, there’s always:
Scott Verplank: second favourite in the absence of the big guns, he won this back in 1988 and managed 4th last year. He has been having a great season, with one victory already and three top 10s in his last three outings, including 7th at the US Open. His stats aren’t bad either, although he could do with working on his putter;
Sean O’Hair: has been getting steadily worse since the excitement of The Players, although missing the cut at the US Open is no disgrace. His problems seem to be in the mind at the moment, because his stats are still out of this world - 26th for putting, 25th for accuracy, 12th for distance and ninth for greens in regulation. Those are winning figures in any book.
Kenny Perry: let me down last week - the bad weather and delays got to him - but he’s still the new improved Perry who won here in 2001;
Ryan Moore: another hot tip who misfired last week, but I’ve decided to keep the faith for another seven days. He’s not as accurate off the tee as I’d like, but his short game is in super form and his putting chili hot.
Jay Williamson: how could I forget him after last week? Okay, he’s probably almost got enough money to make the PGA Tour next year, but he is still hungry for instant exemption and, if he can put together anything like last week’s game, will be a hot contender. He was 8th for accuracy, 8th for putting and 5th for greens in regulation. The more I look at it, the more I wonder how he lost last week. Then I remember the drain and the rules official on Sunday’s first hole.

Not enough? How about Tom Lehman (sixth last week, course-friendly stats, just low on course experience); Tom Pernice Jr (previous winner showing signs of getting back on top of his game); Brian Gay (has a track record here and difficulties with the short game didn’t stop him coming 4th three weeks ago).

In fact the more I look, the more wide open this event looks if Furyk comes up short again.

But some I don’t fancy are Fred Funk, whose iron work is showing signs of rust and whose putting on Sunday was diabolical, Trevor Immelman, who says he’s fighting his way back to fitness but is clearly still a work in progress, and Chris DiMarco who still seems unable to shrug off (oops) his shoulder injury.