On one bright Memorial Tournament afternoon in 1995, Jim Furyk was still the wiry grinder chasing his first big win when a friend waved him over outside the Muirfield Village clubhouse. Standing there was Tabitha Skartvedt, an Ohio State graduate. The two traded a few words, nothing dramatic, just an easy exchange, but something stuck. What felt like a brief chat at a golf tournament would later turn into the start of a lifelong partnership.
That small introduction, over time, turned into one of golf’s most enduring alliances. As Jim collected 17 PGA Tour titles, a 2003 U.S. Open trophy, and, eventually, a Ryder Cup captaincy, Tabitha became far more than a supporting figure. She evolved into the quiet engine behind their shared life, anchoring the family and driving a charitable mission that now reaches well beyond the ropes. So who is, Jim Furyk’s Tabitha?
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Who is Tabitha Skartved Furyk?
Raised in Columbus, Tabitha graduated from Beechcroft High School before heading to the Ohio State University. Friends remember her as grounded and full of energy, traits that would prove vital once she married a traveling tour pro. Before she even met Jim, she had built a marketing and sales career, learning the sponsor relations and organizational skills that later powered her charitable projects.
Today, she channels that experience as president of the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, created to “bring hope to children and families in need.” Under her leadership, the foundation partners with groups such as Feeding Northeast Florida and Blessings in a Backpack, which send thousands of meals each year to kids facing food insecurity and support youth programs and military families across the region.
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Her entrepreneurial streak shines in the Constellation Furyk & Friends PGA Tour Champions event, which she co-founded in 2021. Hosted at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, the tournament quickly became a favorite stop, raising well into seven figures for local causes in its 2024 edition alone. Players from Davis Love III to Bernhard Langer have praised its warm atmosphere and meticulous organization, crediting Tabitha’s attention to detail for the event’s fast success.
Recognition has followed her as well. Tabitha has received the Golf Writers Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award and the PGA TOUR’s Deane Beman Award for distinguished community service. And while she shares glimpses of family life and foundation work on Instagram (@tabithafuryk), her focus remains squarely on the behind-the-scenes work that keeps those programs thriving.
So with such a busy schedule how do that couple work things out?
How Jim and Tabitha Furyk bring it all together
Jim supplies the stage; Tabitha turns the spotlight outward. Together, they’ve raised millions for Northeast Florida charities and inspired fellow players to lend support. Jim often calls her “the glue,” crediting her for steadying their home life through years of travel and competition. That balance, he says, is what lets him stay sharp on tour while remaining present as a husband and father to their children, Caleigh and Tanner.
Their teamwork shows during tournaments. Tabitha walks practice rounds, greets sponsors, and offers the calm read Jim calls “my best one on and off the green.” Their approach: methodical, patient, and quietly effective, mirrors the deliberate style that defined Jim’s career.
The foundation’s Hope for the Holidays drive captures their shared philosophy: start small, build carefully, and keep the focus on people. What began as a neighborhood effort has grown into a regional campaign delivering tens of thousands of toys and meals. PGA Tour peers such as Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson have lauded the Furyks for “setting the gold standard of giving back,” proof that their partnership is about impact, not image.
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In a sport where constant travel can strain even the strongest relationships, their marriage stands out for its steadiness and collaboration. Furyk’s Ryder Cup teammate Davis Love III once noted that “watching the way Tabitha supports Jim shows you why he’s still competing at such a high level.” Among PGA Tour Champions players, that respect runs deep.
The Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament underscores their dual influence. Beyond the millions raised for Jacksonville-area charities, it has boosted local tourism and spotlighted Northeast Florida as a golf destination. City officials credit the event with delivering an annual economic boost while they keep the charitable mission as the face and the centre of their work together.