Jim Furyk was among many players who struggled on the brutally long Bethpage Black layout for the 2002 U.S. Open but he has adopted a positive approach for next week’s edition at the same venue.
Although the par-70 Black Course will play more than 200 yards longer at 7,426 yards than it did seven years ago, Furyk expects a much fairer set-up for the second major of the year.
“I’m going in with a positive attitude because I know it’s going to be set up different,” the 2003 U.S. Open champion said. “I’m going to like the way it’s set up. I’ve liked the (Open) setups the last three years.”
American Furyk missed the cut at Bethpage in 2002 when the course played 7,214 yards off the back tees, making it then the longest U.S. Open layout of all time.
“It was a power-dominated U.S. Open, which is very rare when you think about the history,” the 39-year-old recalled.
“Not being a power-oriented guy, I’m not going to sit here and whine about it because I think the U.S. Open is more down my alley most times than not.
“So if it isn’t one year, I’m not going to be upset about it. I didn’t play well last time, which is my fault because I didn’t execute.”
Furyk believes his chastening experience at Bethpage in 2002 helped him win his first major title in the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields 12 months later.
“I think there’s a lesson learned at Bethpage that helped me out the next year,” he said. “My attitude was a lot better, and I was kind of driven to do well that year.”
Three-times major winner Phil Mickelson played a practice round at Bethpage on Tuesday and echoed Furyk’s feelings that the course, with its tight fairways and graduated rough, would be challenging but fair next week.
“The setup is perfect in that the fairway width is tough to hit but it’s fair,” Mickelson said. “I think the course is going to allow players to separate themselves who are playing well because they can recover.”
Mike Davis, United States Golf Association senior director of rules and competitions, agreed.
“We want the U.S. Open to be the toughest test of golf the players see all year long, and that’s in every aspect,” he said.
“But at the same time, obviously we want it to be a fair test. And by that, really what we are saying is that we want the player, if he executes the proper shot, to be rewarded.”
Asked whether he felt a short to medium hitter would be able to win next week, Davis replied: “I think the answer is yes to that, but that player is really going to have to be on his game.”
The 2009 U.S. Open starts on Thursday.
