Furyk two clear at the turn

GOLF - US TOUR:JIM FURYK could be forgiven for being a tad superstitious. The American has been stuck on 13 PGA Tour wins for three years but was on course to break that particular hoodoo as the Transitions Championship went down the stretch at a wet and windy Palm Harbor last night.

Furyk hasn’t picked up a Tour title since 2007, when he added the Canadian Open to his trophy cabinet, but was edging closer to the winner’s circle at the weather disrupted tournament on the Florida coast.

With storms forecast, and the high profile Tavistock Cup due to get underway later today, officials had moved yesterday’s tee-times forward and sent players out in threesomes in a bid to avoid a Monday finish.

But Mother Nature would not be denied and two lengthy delays, the second lasting almost four hours, meant Furyk didn’t hit his opening drive until almost 3pm (local time).

With howling winds gusting in excess of 30mph through the Copperhead Course, the potential for change remained but Furyk was hanging tough at the top of the leaderboard.

The world number nine reached the turn at, appropriately enough, 13 under par to hold a two-shot lead over his nearest challengers. Two former champions, KJ Choi and Retief Goosen were also in the mix while Bubba Watson was also determined to have a say in the outcome as was Sweden’s Carl Pettersson and American Nick Watney.

While Furyk was looking good to end his barren run, Pádraig Harrington’s challenge faltered over the weekend.

Leading by one at the halfway stage, the Dubliner’s momentum stalled during Saturday’s third round when he posted a one over 72.

Resuming yesterday on seven under, Harrington birdied the par five opening hole to move within four of Furyk’s lead but, after hanging around the lockerroom as the storm clouds refused to budge, would go on to bogey the third and sixth and drop down the field.