Furyk eyes end to winless drought at Transitions

Jim Furyk knows the only way for him to go forward is by not looking backward.

If Furyk stays focused, he has a chance to win the Transitions Championship today. Furyk shot 4-under-par 67 on Saturday to go to 11 under and takes a three-stroke lead into the final round.

Lurking behind Furyk are four players tied at 8 under. Three of those four - K.J. Choi, Retief Goosen and Carl Pettersson - have won this tournament. Choi (2002 and 2006) and Goosen (2003, 2009) are two-time champions. Bubba Watson also is in that group.

"I really want to continue to do the same things," Furyk said. "I'm in a great position in the tournament. If I can kind of get a three-shot lead, or two-shot lead, whatever it is, you kind of dictate what the other guys have to do.

"If I go out there and play a good round of golf (today), which I'm hoping and planning on doing, I'll make them have to make a bunch of birdies. It's difficult on this course, but if I go out and make a few bogeys right off the bat, I kind of let a whole bunch of people back in the tournament."

Today's final round will begin earlier that normal because tournament officials are expecting thunderstorms in the afternoon. Threesomes will start of the first and 10th tees starting at 7:45 a.m. Furyk will be paired Choi and Goosen and they will begin on the first tee at 9:40 a.m.

Furyk's last victory on the PGA Tour came at the Canadian Open in 2007. The 2003 U.S. Open champ's best finish this year was at the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship, where he tied for 17th.

"I want to go out and win a golf tournament," said Furyk, 0-for-58 since his last win. "That's what we play golf for. That's what I practice hard for and I haven't been able to do that in over two years, two-and-a-half years, so it's disappointing, because I work pretty hard at it.

"You want to kind of reap your reward at the end, and you know, as you work hard, you don't always see results immediately. This game will try your patience. If (today) is that day, that's great. If not, I'll plug along and I'll show up next week with the same goal again."

Furyk put himself in position to achieve his goal with four birdies Saturday.

Goosen stayed within striking distance with a 1-under 70. Goosen had two bogeys, but his birdie on No. 18 helped him stay in contention.

"I just knew I had to keep hanging in there," Goosen said. "Obviously Jim Furyk got on a bit of a roll but it was nice to birdie 18 and be three behind at the moment."

Luke Donald began the day at 3 under but made a big move with a 4-under 67 and is tied for sixth with Jeff Maggert and second-round Padraig Harrington at 7 under.

Donald's rise was not a surprise considering he finished second at the Northern Trust Open, finishing two shots behind Steve Stricker at Riviera.

Donald overcame two bogeys with six birdies.

"I made six solid birdies out there, and you know, you're going to make a couple of mistakes around this course," Donald said. "It's not easy, but with the conditions, I think greens are holding up relatively well. You could make a few birdies (Saturday) and I hit a lot of good iron shots.

"I think that's the thing that's been missing a little bit, some of my not-so-good rounds. I just haven't quite hit my irons that well, but I hit a few really close (Saturday) and feel good about my game and where I am."