Fan favorite Furyk closes with flurry

When Jim Furyk began his final round at the 116th U.S. Open on Sunday at Oakmont Country Club, he was hoping to get to 3-under par.

After a birdie on No. 17 to go to 2-under, Furyk walked to the 18th tee with a chance to achieve his goal.

But he pushed his drive into the right rough, hit his second shot into the bunker 80 yards short of the green and then his shot from the bunker left him with a tricky 33-foot par putt.

He barely missed and settled for a bogey to finish the tournament with a 1-under 279.

Furyk shot a 4-under 66 during his final round — the best score of the day — and ended tied for second with Scott Piercy and third-round leader Shane Lowry, who stumbled with a 6-over 76.

“This is a much better feeling to finish second coming back off a 66,” Furyk said. “I mean, to be right in the thick of things and bogey 17 the last time, that's kind of like that you can taste it, but that's a little bit of a bitter pill to swallow. I have a much happier feel, put it that way.”

The son of Mike Furyk, who grew up in Lower Burrell, and Linda, who was from Harrison, Furyk has spent a lot of time in Western Pennsylvania visiting his large contingent of relatives. He established a golf scholarship for players at Burrell, his father's alma mater.

Furyk was born in West Chester and attended Manheim Township in Lancaster. He was state champion in 1987.

“The front nine in the third round is what cost me,” said Furyk, who received a standing ovation from the crowd as he approached the final green. “I really did a good job other than 15 and 18, where I drove the ball into the rough. Both times to the right and very similar swings.

“I did a good job of keeping the ball in front of me, keeping it in the fairways. I was trying to attack a little bit on the back nine, just wasn't able to quite get over the hump.”

Furyk was able to par No. 15 and then birdied No. 17, the same hole that cost him a shot at the 2007 U.S. Open.

“The birdie on No. 17 was exciting, a little retribution for the last time through,” Furyk said. “The one regret, I wish I'd have got the ball on the fairway at 18. It would have been a little more exciting.”

Furyk started off with birdies on Nos. 1, 5 and 7. He then birdied No. 11 but missed other chances to go lower.

“I was 10 (strokes) back, but if I got it going on the front nine, maybe I could post a 3-under,” Furyk said. “That was the kind of number I was looking at. I know 64s are hard to come by here, but I got it going on the front nine.”

Despite his struggle on the final hole, Furyk was moved by the fans as “Here We Go Steelers” and “Lets Go Pens” were chanted.

“I had a lot of support this week from my birthplace, West Chester,” Furyk said. “I heard ‘Lancaster,' where I grew up. I heard ‘Manheim Township,' and stuff from Western Pa. My dad was head pro at Uniontown Country Club.

“I heard every little town and borough through here. I heard my parents' high schools being called out. I had a lot of places claiming me. It was a lot of fun.”

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.