Fred Funk adheres to the same philosophy on the golf course the former University of Maryland coach used in the ring as an amateur boxer.
“If you’re in a fight and you’re winning the fight, I want to kick them again,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to do. I learned that when I used to be a boxer. You don’t want this guy coming back. So when he’s down, kick him again.”
Funk’s approach has paid huge dividends for the Tacoma Park native, who has bounced between the PGA and Champions Tours this season. In 14 PGA events, Funk has made seven cuts and placed in the top 10 once en route to earning about $260,000. But in 14 Champions Tour events, he was won twice and placed in the top 10 seven times, pushing his winnings to more than $1.4 million.
Funk ranks fourth on the money list and third in the Charles Schwab Cup, the Champions Tour’s overall title. The 52-year-old emerged as a championship contender in August when he won the Jeld-Wen Tradition, one of the tour’s five majors.
But it wasn’t easy.
Funk led by four strokes with two holes remaining before a rain delay postponed the competition after he had just hit his worst shot of the weekend on the 16th hole. He was furious.
“I was sitting with my son and daughter, and then my wife came up and she was trying to get me refocused and not being negative,” he said. “I was so pissed off, I wasn’t listening too well. Finally, I went outside and when they opened up the range. I couldn’t wait to get there and get some frustration out on the range.”
It worked. Funk cruised to 19-under par and a three-shot win to claim his first major championship at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver Resort in Bend, Ore.
Funk, who coached at his alma mater from 1982 through 1988, will try to continue his success this weekend at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship at Baltimore Country Club’s East Course. He’s one of the favorites, as he is fifth on the tour in driving accuracy and averages a tour-best 4.46 birdies per round.
“My focus now is hopefully I can stay healthy,” he said, “keep improving on my game a little bit and move on.”
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