Jimmy Burch 
Golf Insider: Furyk goes way above and beyond call of pro athlete
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The front door opened Monday at Michelle Marlow's house, where a huge "We Love Furyk" banner graces the front lawn.
But the family's baby sitter seemed puzzled when the visitor announced: "I'm Jim. I'm the man on the sign."
Moments later, Michelle Marlow cleared up the confusion. But, perhaps, not in the smoothest way possible.
"I ran into the foyer and started jumping up and down, saying, 'Jim Furyk! Jim Furyk!,'" she recalled. "I think I may have embarrassed him a little bit."
Not at all, Furyk said Tuesday, one day after paying an impromptu visit to the Marlow family to offer personal thanks for their public support. Instead, the No. 5 player in the world golf rankings said he was "flattered" by the gesture and enjoyed the chance to meet Michelle and three of the family's four sons.
If anything, Furyk reasoned, his visit was overdue. After all, the sign first appeared during last year's rain-soaked Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where Furyk lost in a playoff to Rory Sabbatini.
Furyk noticed the sign every day during the 2007 event because the Marlows live near Colonial, along Furyk's driving route to the course.
"My family and I were flattered by it," Furyk said. "I planned on just stopping in and saying 'hello' at the end of the tournament, but the playoff pushed us back. So I kind of waved from the car as we drove by and thought I'd stop by and say 'hello' this year."
If ever you question the difference between professional golfers and countless other professional athletes, do this: Envision Barry Bonds knocking, unannounced, on some family's door to say he was "flattered" by their support. Now that you're done laughing at that mental image, let's get back to Furyk.
When the 2003 U.S. Open champ stopped Monday, he found two signs in the yard: one for him, plus a "Welcome Back, Phil" sign for Phil Mickelson, a Colonial competitor for the first time since 2005. Mickelson ranks high with the Marlow family because, on a previous trip to Colonial, he purchased a 50-cent drink from the boys' lemonade stand and left a $99.50 tip, placing a C-note in the kitty before driving away.
During Monday's stop, Furyk gave something even more precious than cash: his time. He stayed long enough to listen to Thomas, 7, practice for an upcoming piano recital. He went into the back yard and offered some golf tips to Henry, 5.
"He was so dear. It was cute watching him interact with the boys," Marlow said. "He's just the nicest man."
Rest assured, Furyk made a big impression on all members of the Marlow clan. That includes Scott, Michelle's husband, who missed the visit because of his work schedule.
Scott Marlow, it turns out, is the one who had the idea to create the banner for Furyk. He's long admired Furyk's work ethic and loyalty to his father, Mike, a club pro who remains the only swing coach in his son's stellar career.
Scott also recalls opening an unexpected package last December to discover an autographed photo of Furyk with this inscription: "To the Marlows: Thank you for all your support. Jim Furyk."
Yep. Furyk tracked them down to offer thanks from afar. Most athletes, rest assured, would have let that gesture suffice. Furyk, however, took the extra step Monday and made personal contact. Because of that, the Marlows are bigger Furyk fans today than when they posted the banner in their yard in 2007.
"In this day of superstar athletes, I can't tell you how impressed I am that he did that," Scott Marlow said. "That is so cool."
From all indications, the "We Love Furyk" banner will be a permanent fixture in the Marlows' yard during Colonial week for years to come.
TELLING NUMBERS
0.10 Separation, in average points, between the No. 5 player (Jim Furyk, 5.52) and No. 8 player (K.J. Choi, 5.42) in this week's world golf rankings.
11.24 Separation, in average points, between the No. 1 player (Tiger Woods, 20.59) and No. 2 player (Phil Mickelson, 9.35) in this week's world golf rankings.
79 Spots climbed on this week's PGA Tour money list by Hurst resident Ryan Palmer ($160,795), who stands at No. 155 after Sunday's 10th-place finish at the AT&T Classic.
5 Colonial competitors who average 300 yards per drive and rank among the six longest hitters on the PGA Tour: Bubba Watson (310.5), Dustin Johnson (306), Robert Garrigus (305.3), Brett Wetterich (302.2) and Anthony Kim (300).
67.5 Colonial career scoring average for McKinney resident Nathan Green, tops among this week's competitors.
* * *
"How I'm seeing this golf course is totally different than how I've seen it in the past. I've always cut the ball [before] and I'm finding out... I don't have the strength to keep doing that. So I've switched to playing a draw, and I think I'm heading in the right direction."
Westlake resident Brandt Jobe, on adjusting his swing over the past two months to compensate for career-threatening injuries to his left hand.
AREA PROS
How exempt players with Fort Worth area connections (residents or golfers from Fort Worth area high schools or colleges) are faring on the PGA, Champions, LPGA, Nationwide and Duramed Futures tours this season. Listed are the official earnings and where they rank on the money list:
PGA TOUR
Chad Campbell, $1,239,386 (27)
Rory Sabbatini, $1,171,050 (32)
Ben Crane, $909,709 (46)
Jason Day, $458,346 (101)
Tag Ridings, $220,743 (135)
Todd Hamilton, $195,261 (147)
J.J. Henry, $185,430 (149)
Ryan Palmer, $160,795 (155)
Stephen Leaney, $104,066 (178)
Brandt Jobe, $70,050 (194)
Mark Brooks, $17,871 (236)
LPGA TOUR
Angela Stanford, $334,491 (8)
Heather Young, $84,804 (61)
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Terry Snodgrass, $928 (156)
NATIONWIDE TOUR
Greg Chalmers, $177,354 (3)
D.J. Brigman, $90,832 (19)
J.J. Killeen, $71,802 (27)
Kelly Grunewald, $20,329 (82)
Hunter Haas, $19,900 (84)
Keoke Cotner, $3,815 (176)
Ian Leggatt, $3,717 (177)
DURAMED FUTURES TOUR
Catherine Matranga, $500 (147)
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
LPGA
Corning Classic
Site: Corning, N.Y., Corning Country Club (6,223 yards, par 72)
TV schedule: Golf Channel (Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m., 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m., 5:30-8 p.m.; Sunday, midnight-3:30 a.m., 5:30-8 p.m.; Monday, midnight-2:30 a.m.)
Purse: $1.5 million. Winner's share: $225,000.
2007 winner: Young Kim
PGA Of America
Senior PGA Championship
Site: Rochester, N.Y., Oak Hill Country Club, East Course (7,001 yards, par 70)
TV schedule: Golf Channel (Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, 1:30-4:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 1:30-4:30 a.m.) and KXAS/5 (Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m.)
Purse: TBA ($2 million in 2007). Winner's share: TBA ($360,000 in 2007).
2007 winner: Denis Watson
Nationwide Tour
Prince George's County Open
Site: Mitchellville, Md., The Country Club at Woodmore (7,059 yards, par 72)
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday (no tv coverage)
Purse: $650,000. Winner's share: $117,000.
2007 winner: Paul Claxton
PGA European Tour
BMW PGA Championship
Site: Virginia Water, England, Wentworth Club, West Course (7,050 yards, par 72)
TV schedule: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 8-11 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30-11:30 a.m., 9-11 p.m.)
Purse: $7 million. Winner's share: $1.17 million.
2007 winner: Anders Hansen
Jimmy Burch, 817-390-7760
