Jim Furyk stood on the 18th fairway in a practice round, feeling the firmness of the turf under his feet.<\/p>\n
To satisfy his curiosity, Furyk took his golf ball and threw it against the ground to see how high it might bounce.<\/p>\n
It came back to him like a rubber ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree times,\u201d Furyk said.<\/p>\n
In a similar manner, Furyk would like a little bounce-back in his game as he returns to Oakmont Country Club, scene of one of his major disappointments.<\/p>\n
The 2003 U.S. Open champion with the Western Pennsylvania connection was out for three months after having surgery on his left wrist in February. He has appeared in just four events on the PGA Tour since returning, missing the cut in two of them (Wells Fargo, Colonial).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not fun to be away from golf,\u201d Furyk said. \u201cIt\u2019s tough being off for seven to eight months and getting back in flow. But I\u2019m starting to get back to my rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furyk, who was 2 when his dad was the head professional at Uniontown Country Club in the early 1970s, had his rhythm going in 2007 when the U.S. Open was previously played at Oakmont. He finished tied for second behind Angel Cabrera after making a charge on the back nine with a flurry of birdies \u2014\u00a0a rarity at Oakmont \u2014\u00a0at Nos. 13, 14 and 15.<\/p>\n
But Furyk made a costly mistake at No. 17, the shortest par-4 hole on the course, when he used a driver and knocked his tee shot over the green into a grassy slope. Furyk left his first pitch short of the green and ended up making bogey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the right play,\u201d Furyk said, standing outside the Oakmont clubhouse, defending the decision to use a driver. \u201cSome may argue with me, but it was the right play. Cabrera had the lead going to 17 right in front of me and he laid up and made bogey. If I laid up and lost by one I\u2019d be kicking myself in the rear for playing conservatively and losing the Open.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furyk said what actually cost him the Open was two other aggressive mistakes earlier in the round \u2014 trying to drive the green at No. 2 and attempting to reach the green in two at the 632-yard 12th hole. Like he did at No. 17, which was playing 277 yards on the final day, Furyk made bogeys on each of those holes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had to go back and do things differently \u2026\u00a0I went for three greens in less than regulation and made bogey on all three,\u201d Furyk said. \u201cTwo and 12, when I look back, I\u2019d do it differently. I have no regrets on 17 at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furyk said he has seen little difference in the course he played in 2007 and the one he will attempt to conquer \u2014 heck, survive \u2014 today. Furyk tees off at 1:58 p.m. with two former winners at Oakmont \u2014 Cabrera and Ernie Els (1994).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tough, it\u2019s firm, it\u2019s fast, the rough is up, it\u2019s thick, it\u2019s in tournament shape right now,\u201d Furyk said. \u201cIt\u2019s right on. I don\u2019t see much difference. Maybe right now it\u2019s a touch firmer and faster at this stage of the week, but maybe that\u2019s because of the forecast and rain on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n