Furyk posts a two-shot victory in Buick Open

JIM FURYK, the reigning US Open champion, held off Tiger Woods, shooting a final round 68 to post a two-shot victory at the four million-dollar Buick Open yesterday.

Furyk posted a winning score of 21-under 267 at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, taking home the first prize of $720,000 that pushed his yearly earnings over four million dollars. It was his ninth career victory.

After capturing his first major title at the US Open in June, yesterday’s win established another milestone for Furyk as it gives the Pennsylvania native two wins in the same season for the first time in his career.

Woods, the defending champion, was trying for his fifth victory of 2003, which would have matched last year’s total, but he settled for a tie for second with Geoff Ogilvy, Briny Baird and second-round leader Chris DiMarco.

Woods, who began the day four shots behind Furyk, signed for a 66 that left him at 269.

Woods skipped last week’s Greater Hartford Open after finishing fourth in the British Open.

He went back to his Titleist driver last Monday when he and world No. 2 Ernie Els lost to Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, 3 and 1, in the Battle of the Bridges, the made-for-television match play exhibition.

Ogilvy matched the lowest round of the day, a 65 that enabled him to climb from a tie for 11th.

Paul Goydos and Neal Lancaster tied for sixth at 270.