US OPEN: Forget what the doomsayers say: good play will still be rewarded at Chambers Bay

Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, is halfway to Chambers Bay, but when Jim Furyk spoke on June 7, he sounded as if he were a continent away. That’s because he told of family plans and a commitment to attend a wedding so he wouldn’t be getting a look at the US Open venue for another two weeks.

“Guess I’m one of those guys who can’t win,” Furyk said. Or should we say “quipped”, because it was a sneaky funny one from a guy mistakenly considered a big bowl of bland vanilla.

Furyk’s still-brilliant golf game at the age of 45 is a product of skill, yes, but is helped immensely by having a remarkable mix of power of observation and quick wit. On this comment, Furyk was tossing a dig at Mike Davis, the executive director of the US Golf Association. That it was a well-deserved dig, too, spoke volumes for Furyk’s reputation for not getting caught up in the hype.