Furyk Makes Ryder Cup Push

Jim Furyk wants to remove all doubts about his Ryder Cup status this week.

He’s off to a good start.

Furyk shot an eight-under-par 64 Thursday at Warwick Hills to share the first-round lead with Brian Henninger in the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Furyk, 11th on the Ryder Cup points list, is seeking his third berth on the U.S. team.

“It’s in the back of my mind, we are all human,” Furyk said. “You can say just go ahead and forget about it and play golf, but you are thinking about it.”

The top 10 on the points list after next week’s PGA Championship automatically make the team, and captain Curtis Strange will add two more players.

Phil Mickelson was one stroke behind the leaders after missing a six-foot putt on No. 18 for his only bogey.

Jean Van de Velde, Briny Baird, John Cook, Steve Flesch, Ian Leggatt, David Peoples, Craig Perks and Kenny Perry were all at 66.

Mark O’Meara was among a group of 10 another stroke back.

Firm fairways after several 90-plus-degree days are making drives longer, and soft greens, which have been watered a lot, encouraged players to shoot for pins.

“I think the golf course is much more difficult than the scores are showing,” Mickelson said.

Six of the top 10 players on the Ryder Cup points list are playing this week. The only player from fifth to 19th who took the week off was No. 7 Scott Hoch.

The Buick Open winner receives 150 Ryder Cup points.

“I would definitely like to have a real strong finish here or next week,” Furyk said, “and solidify a spot on the team and not have to try to rely or hope to be a captain’s pick.”

Henninger has made only four cuts in 20 outings and his best finish was a tie for 26th at the Houston Open in April. His 64 was his best round of the year.

“I am probably, in a negative way, too much of a momentum player,” Henninger said. “It’s fun to be ahead. I am good when I get ahead. I am not so good when I get behind.”

Mickelson will be going for his third win this year and 20th of his career. He won the Greater Hartford Open last month and the Buick Invitational in a playoff over Frank Lickliter and Davis Love III in February.

But Mickelson struggled in July. He tied for 42nd at the Western Open, tied for 30th at the British Open, and tied for 71st last week in The International.

Mickelson will look to shed the label of being “the best golfer to never win a major” next week. But Mickelson insists he’s concentrating on this week’s event, not the PGA Championship.

“I try not to look at this tournament as being a warmup for next week,” he said. “I think that kind of undermines the importance of this event.”