Furyk, Duval start comebacks

After working hard to become one of the tour’s most consistent players, Jim Furyk broke through for his first major title at the 2003 U.S. Open. He finished his career-best season No. 4 in the World Ranking but then suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him after just two starts this year.

David Duval, the last player other than Tiger Woods to be No. 1, reached the pinnacle of his career with his first major victory at the 2001 British Open. But he suffered a series of injuries, lost his game, then walked away from the tour in October.

Furyk and Duval begin their comebacks today. The friends face similar challenges returning from the most serious setbacks of their careers.

They face plenty of unknowns, not the least of which is seeing how their rusty games hold up under the glare on golf’s most difficult stage, the U.S. Open. The tall fescue, narrow fairways and firm greens at Shinnecock Hills can deliver stern punishment.

Opens can be brutal affairs. The tough conditions often produce 5-hour rounds that exact physical and mental tolls.

Neither player was expected to be in the field, so their presence adds a layer of intrigue to the second major.

Duval hasn’t hit a ball in competition in eight months. His prolonged slump has plummeted him to No. 434 in the World Ranking. His struggles with errant shots have become one of the sport’s biggest mysteries.

Furyk underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left wrist on March 22. Doctors told him it would take three to six months to recover. He has not even reached the three-month point yet.

A couple of weeks ago, Furyk said he figured his return would come at the Western Open, which begins July 1. But after consulting with doctors, he couldn’t resist defending his title.

Tough greens in store

Since the winds off the Atlantic Ocean are as ever-present as rich folks on this end of Long Island, players are trying to solve the toughest dilemma they will face this week at Shinnecock Hills.

No question, low-flying knockdown shots are the optimal way to keep the ball out of the wind, but the greens this week are harder than trying to explain Paris Hilton’s popularity. Low shots are skipping to the back or over the putting surfaces.

“I don’t think I’ve seen U.S. Open greens that were any firmer than this,” Ernie Els said.

Trevor Immelman, who like Els has a home at Lake Nona, said players must choose between skipping a low shot onto the green or tossing a high shot into the wind, which could land it anywhere depending on the gusts of the moment.

“The greens are so hard, it’s really tough to hit a knockdown shot and still keep the ball on the right tier of the green,” Immelman said.

Twin Opens for Pebble Beach

Northern California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links landed a golf doubleheader Wednesday when it was announced that the famed seaside course will host the 2010 U.S. Open as well as its first U.S. Women’s Open at an indeterminate later date. Pebble Beach has hosted 10 Opens in the past, most recently in 2000.

Beginning in 2005, the Open will consecutively visit Pinehurst (North Carolina), Winged Foot (New York), Oakmont (Pennsylvania), Torrey Pines (California), Bethpage State Park (New York) and Pebble Beach (California).

Dating to the 2002 Open at Bethpage, the Open will have been staged in New York four times in an eight-year span by 2009.

That doesn’t exactly disarm those who have accused the United States Golf Association of having a pronounced East Coast bias, if not a condescending air about courses elsewhere.

“We’re not concerned about it,” said Walter Driver, chairman of the USGA championship committee.

Fear his motivation

Vijay Singh has developed a well-deserved reputation as the hardest-working man in golf. His marathon practice sessions can last hours, and he almost never misses a day of work.

It turns out that, like many of us, he is somewhat motivated by fear of failure.

“Ivan Lendl was one of the best tennis players,” Singh said Wednesday. “He said that if he missed one day, it took him two days to come back. I don’t want to lose my golf swing. That’s my biggest fear.”