Woods not a worry for Furyk

American Jim Furyk capped probably the second-best year of his career by retaining the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa but accepted he was a long way from catching world number one Tiger Woods.

Furyk, winner of the 2003 US Open, finished 2006 second on the PGA Tour‘s money list in a year that saw him climb the rankings to leave only Woods ahead of him.

The invitational Nedbank event, with its 12-man field, is something of an end-of-season knockabout but that did not get in the way of the Ryder Cup star becoming the fifth player in the 26-year history of the event to successfully defend his title and take home the €891,300 first prize.

Despite his great year, in which he also won twice in America, Furyk cannot see himself threatening Woods just yet.

“What’s important to me is improving my game and getting better, whatever that ranking says,” said the 36-year-old in Sun City.

“Besides, Tiger is a very gifted and driven player and he’ll be very difficult to catch on the rankings.

“It will take me a long time at my current level, which is my best level and his is still better, to catch him.”