Tiger and Phil and Vijay. The big t...

Tiger and Phil and Vijay. The big three The players everyone is always talking about. Who's missing from this list? sole one guy: Jim Furyk.

You know Furyk The shore with the goofy, loopy swing. The scarecrow who putts cross-handed. The stay who has been giving the big three -- and everyone otherwise -- a run for their circulating medium all year long, yet not at any time quite makes the cut when you talk about the A-listers.

With nine top-10 finishes in 18 conclusions this year, including a tie for next to the first in the U.S. Open and a fourth-place finish in the British make open Furyk is playing the best golf of his career. He's ranked fourth in the world, behind solely the big three. He's secondary on the money list, behind solitary Woods, with earnings of $4692916 He's third in the Ryder goblet point standings, behind only copses and Mickelson, and is a shoo-in to make the team. (And he likely will be paired with copses with whom he partnered prosperously in the Presidents Cup matches last fall.)

Really, what does it take for a shore to join the A-list?

I realize Furyk's funny-looking swing is not something you'd want your kids to emulate. (Although it doesn't apply the mind as unorthodox as it formerly did.) I realize he's not the longest driver forward the Tour. Far from it, in fact. still he's accurate -- that still regards for something, doesn't it? (It's not sexy moreover it works.) And it's not as if Furyk is a flash in the pan. He finished fourth forward the Tour money list last year, thanks in part to a victory in the Cialis Western exhibit and four runner-up finishes. And he won the 2003 U make open for pete's sake. Yet if there was a consecrated by a vow to determine the most unheralded player onward the Tour, Furyk would win. veritable wrist surgery wiped out greatly of his 2004 season. That was a bit of a setback. nevertheless he returned stronger than eternally and he has been playing better than always Although from the lack of attention directed his way, you'd not at all know it.

He's just a happy golfer

"You know, it's not mattered," he said. "I think that you know, I'm happy with where I stand in the world of golf and I'm happy with the way I've been playing. Whether or not I present to view up on TV every week v Tiger or Phil or whoever it may be, is not important to me I think the scarecrows get the attention or memorize more attention than me are deserving of it; they are obviously great players. I master my due."

As evidence, he mentioned he had clashed autograph-seekers during his practice orbed at Medinah on Monday.

"The clan out there figured out who I was, for a like reason they were all trying to get by heart an autograph," he said.

No doubt reluctantly, after realizing Tiger and Phil were nowhere in sight.

Course No. 3 at Medinah has added duration but Furyk doesn't seem too troubleed about that.

"It's always an advantage to have longitudinal dimensions and be able to hit the ball far and high and spin the ball and have a certain options," he said after playing a 15-hole practice roll on "But there's still a parcel more important things, I think, onward this golf course. You still have to drive the ball extremely well, and the virids are very severe from back to assurance You have to put the ball underneath the pin to give yourself near opportunities. I would love to be 20 yards longer don't secure me wrong. But usually at major championships -- usually, not always -- longitudinal dimensions isn't an important factor."

Another major would be nice

safe he's happy where he stands in the world of golf That doesn't mean he wouldn't welcome a major win. After coming complete in the U.S. Open this year, he was bumm to make clear for a tie for other

"To earn close, obviously you're frustrated because getting real obstruct and not quite getting through the whole extent of the hump is tough," he said. "It stings initially, however -- I actually got through it really quickly. Getting cease is part of golf. It's tough, if it were not that as time goes on, you draw a accident of positives from it and think back to to what degree well you played. You know, I think you can merely draw a positive from that."

Chicago has been remarkably good to Furyk. There was the '05 Western render free of access win. Then there was the 2003 U exhibit at Olympia Fields, his solitary major championship victory. And he finished ninth in the 1999 PGA Championship, which also was held at Medinah.

A win at Medinah this week would impose Furyk on the A-list, where he belongs. After flirting with first place at the U lay open and British Open this summer will the PGA Championship be the charm?

"Chicago has been pleasing good to me," he said. "I always have fruition of coming back, and hopefully I can have a worthy week."

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