PGA TOUR Furyk, Flesch look to Ryder Cup
Tiger Woods is only thinking about this week's Buick Open.
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (AP) -- Jim Furyk is thinking about the Ryder Cup.
With the team event less than two months away, and the venue only 40 miles from the Buick Open and Warwick Hills, it's easy to understand.
"It's always on my mind," Furyk said.
The 2003 U.S. Open champion played a practice round in the rain Tuesday at Oakland Hills -- where the Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 17-19 -- two days before the Buick Open started. He's one of seven players with enough points to not worry about earning one of the 10 automatic spots on the U.S. team.
Steve Flesch is not so lucky.
Flesch ninth in points
He's ninth in the standings with three tournaments -- the Buick Open, International and PGA Championship -- left to earn points.
"Obviously, the Ryder Cup is going to be in the back of our mind," Flesch said. "But I haven't secured my spot, so I've got to just worry about playing well in the next three weeks. I'm ninth in points, and I know guys are right on my tail."
Flesch planned to play Oakland Hills on Tuesday, but the rain kept him away.
Tiger Woods didn't try to play the famous course in suburban Detroit, and doesn't plan on it until the week of the Ryder Cup when there are three practice rounds.
"I'm not really thinking about it," Woods said. "I have this tournament, the PGA and the World Golf Championships. I have three pretty good tournaments right in a row, and I'm trying to get my game ready for that.
"Then, once the majors are done, we can start looking forward to the Ryder Cup."
However, Woods does have plans to play Whistling Straits in Wisconsin -- for the first time -- next week.
Major winless streak
If Woods does not win the PGA Championship there in two weeks, his winless streak in the majors will hit 10. But the top-ranked player in the world doesn't plan to prepare for the next major while competing in the Buick Open.
"I'm just trying to win the golf tournament," Woods said. "I have not been there yet, so I don't know what I'm going to need for that week. I can't really practice out there on the range and hit shots that I'm going to need for Whistling Straits."
In 13 tournaments this year, Woods has been in the top 10 nine times, including a victory five months ago and two third-place finishes.
Woods has won 40 PGA Tour titles, including the 2002 Buick Open, since turning pro in 1996. He held all four majors at the same time -- unprecedented in professional golf -- and had eight major championships before he turned 27.
But he hasn't won a major since the 2002 U.S. Open and has failed to hold onto a 36-hole lead twice this year after winning tournaments in the same situation the previous five years.
When Woods used to show up at a golf tournament, he was considered the player to beat. Now, he's simply regarded as beatable.
"Until he gets on top of his game, and everybody realizes he's playing his best, players are just worrying about their own game," Flesch said. "It's no secret that he's not playing as good as we all know he can.
Consider Tiger beatable
"Everybody realizes now that he is beatable, more than he was four years ago in 2000. If he showed up, everybody knew he was the guy to beat."
Woods shrugs off the scrutiny he's receiving because frankly, he's used to it.
"Back in 2000 when I was winning a lot, I remember getting criticism for it. I was bad for the tour because I was winning too much," Woods said. "Now, I'm not winning quite as much. So, there's always something."