James Michael Furyk (born May 12, 1970) is an American professional golfer, known for consistently playing at the top level and for a visibly unconventional, looping golf swing. Due to his ability to perform at such a high level despite that swing, his devoted fan base has given him the nickname "The Grinder". In September 2006 he reached a career high of second in the Official World Golf Rankings. He has ranked in the top-10 for over 270 weeks between 1999 and 2009.

Furyk was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His early years were spent in the Pittsburgh suburbs learning the game from his father, who was head pro at Uniontown Country Club near Pittsburgh. He graduated from Manheim Township High School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1988 where he was a standout basketball player in addition to being a state champion golfer. He attended the University of Arizona and turned professional in 1992.

Jim Furyk is known for his excellent short game, consistency, and for being one of the PGA Tour's true "nice guys." But more than that, he's known for a very unorthodox swing. It's a swing that doesn't produce great power, but does yield great accuracy off the tee. It's been described as a looping swing, one in which Furyk takes the club back very steeply and very high, then severely reroutes on the way back down.

Golf broadcaster David Feherty famously said that Furyk's swing resembles "an octopus falling out of a tree." Another commentator, Gary McCord, said it looked like Furyk was trying to swing inside a phone booth.

Whatever it looks like, it works: Furyk is double-digit winner on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.

He learned his unorthodox swing from his father, Mike, a club pro at Uniontown Country Club near Pittsburgh. Furyk also started putting crosshanded at a very young age and has always putter that way - also with excellent results.

In high school, Furyk won the Pennsylvania state golf title and also played basketball. He attended the University of Arizona, where he was a two-time All-America selection.

Furyk turned pro in 1992 and played the Nationwide Tour in 1993, winning once and finishing 26th on the money list. He earned his Tour card at Q-School and 1994 was his rookie season on the PGA Tour.

His first PGA Tour win came at the 1995 Las Vegas Invitational, a tournament that was the site of three of his first four tour victories. Furyk's first big-money year was 1997; he didn't win a tournament that year, but did finish fourth on the money list.

He's been very consistent since then, finishing third on the money list in 1998, second in 2006, and never outside the Top 20 when playing a full year.

Furyk's first major championship win was at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields in Chicago, where he set a 36-hole scoring record (133), a 54-hole record (200), and tied the 72-hole record (272).

An injured wrist required surgery at the start of 2004 and Furyk missed the first half of the season (his only year outside of the Top 20 in money since 1996). But he got back on track by winning the Western Open in 2005.

Furyks' best season to date was 2006, when he won twice, posted 14 Top 10s, finished second in money and won the Vardon Trophy for low scoring average. He also reached No. 2 in the world rankings that year.

Furyk is featured in the instructional DVD, "Expert Insight: Short Game Golf with Jim Furyk & Fred Funk."

Tour Victories:
13

Major Championships:
1
U.S. Open: 2003

Awards and Honors:
• PGA Vardon Trophy winner (low scoring average), 2006
• Member, U.S. Ryder Cup team, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
• Member, U.S. Presidents Cup team, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009