29/07/2010 6:03 PM
Greenbrier Classic favourite Jim Furyk says winning is all that matters to him as the tournament tees off at the Old White course at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on Thursday.
With just four weeks and five events remaining until FedEx Cup play-offs begin, Furyk is positioning himself to make a run at the title.
The 2003 US Open champion currently sits fifth in the standings, 272 points behind Ernie Els, having dropped from second after failing to finish in the top 10 in his last eight tournaments.
His last top-10 finish came at The Memorial in Ohio in early June.
A top-two finish in the Greenbrier Classic would vault Furyk to the top of the standings above Els, who will watch from the grandstand for the second consecutive week after failing to make the cut at the British Open.
Furyk got his first good look at the Old White on Wednesday, shooting a five-under in the Pro-Am.
Speaking to the press ahead of Thursday's tee-off, the 40-year-old West Chester, Pennsylvania native said he was emphasising wins over consistency this year.
"I've been pleased with my year, it's been nice to win a couple of events," he said.
"The last couple of years in '08 and '09 I didn't win, that was a sore spot with me and I talked a lot about it in the press."
"I was very consistent in those years, I had a lot of top finishes, had a lot of opportunities to win but I never quite got over the hump."
"This year's been a little bit of an opposite year, I've been a little bit more inconsistent."
"I've missed a few cuts, I haven't had nearly as many top-10 finishes, but I've always said I'd trade it because the goal is to win some golf tournaments. So to get over that hump this year and win those events has been a lot of fun."
Furyk, who has 15 career PGA Tour victories, has taken out two events this year – the Transitions Championship in Florida and Verizon Heritage in South Carolina.
He has never had a three-win season, a feat he admits he would love to accomplish.
"To win and vault to No.1 and basically be cemented in one of those top three spots for sure is a bonus," he said
"It's a big head start to be seeded well. But first and foremost it would be great to have a three-win season. I've never done it."
The PGA Tour moves to Ohio for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on August 8.