Pittsburgh fan Furyk hopes to 'Steel' win in Hawaii

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- He grew up in Pittsburgh but now lives near Jacksonville. You think Jim Furyk has divided loyalties? No chance.

The Steelers are his team. Always have been his team. So even though it was a good day on the golf course Saturday for Furyk, who shot a 7-under-par 66 in the third round in the Mercedes-Benz Championship to, as he summarized, "get back in the thick of things," he had something else on his mind.

Jim Furyk tips his cap after a birdie on No. 18, then runs home to watch the game. (Getty Images)

When his round was over, he hurried from the Plantation Course at Kapalua to the adjacent home he owns to watch his beloved Steelers rally from a big deficit, but ultimately lose their playoff game against Jacksonville.

"Don't tell me the score," Furyk urged when somebody tried to do just that as he walked off the 18th green. "I'm recording it."

Furyk's score was the low for the day and gave him a 9-under total of 210, four shots behind Mike Weir on what is a crowded and interesting leaderboard heading into Sunday's final round.

Weir, the little lefty from Canada, is at 13-under 206 after his 68. Nick Watney is a shot behind, and Daniel Chopra and Jonathan Byrd share third at 208. Stephen Ames, tied with Weir at the start of the round, is next at 209, followed by Furyk, Justin Leonard, Steve Stricker and Brandt Snedeker at 210.

"Anytime you're within six shots you have a chance to win," Furyk said. "It depends how many guys are in front of you. I'll be close enough that I'll have an opportunity to win, but I'm going to have to fire another really good round."

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, one and two in the world rankings, have once again decided Hawaii is not their idea of paradise. So that leaves Furyk, No. 3 on the charts, as the main attraction. For more than one reason.

He has won twice at Kapalua, back in 1995 when it was the site of an unofficial event -- the Lincoln-Mercury International -- then in 2001 when the par-73 Plantation Course had been upgraded and the Mercedes was moved here.

"I love this area, and my parents love this area," he said. "My family wanted to spend more time here, but it hasn't worked out quite the way we would have liked, with my wife and I starting a family, and our kids and travel schedule. But we enjoyed our first trip here, and I played really well, although that didn't have anything to do with how much fun we had."

There was a great deal of enjoyment Saturday at the Mercedes. Although the sun shone much of the time, the course was soggy and muddy, so tournament and Tour officials decided players should be allowed to lift, clean and replace their balls. And once a pro gets to choose his lie, there are going to be a lot of birdies.

Furyk's didn't start coming until the back nine, although he was 2-under on the front. Then he birdied 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18. Seven birdies, no bogeys.

Furyk was invited to the Steelers' playoff game. He was occupied with his work, however.