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This is the second major this year that has offered redemption to its champion. Masters winner, Adam Scott, was rightfully hailed for claiming his first major title so soon after his collapse in last year’s Open Championship.
This year’s PGA Champion, Jason Dufner, had to wait a little longer before laying to rest the fact he had blown a five shot lead over the last four holes to win his first major at Atlanta Athletic Club, exactly two years ago to the day.
The player to deny Dufner back then was Keegan Bradley, who won his first major by defeating him in a playoff – a playoff occasioned by Dufner’s horrific collapse.
This year, after knocking in a six-inch tiddler to win by two shots from runner-up, Jim Furyk, Dufner gave his rather attractive wife, Amanda, a big hug before proceeding to the scorer’s office. He hadn’t gone far before he was embraced by a fellow competitor whose pleasure in acknowledging the new champion was obvious for all to see. That competitor was Keegan Bradley. Don’t you just love this game!
Dufner, he of such laid-back style, has become a bit of a cult figure through his displays of, well, nothing really. His nonchalant look, whether having just sent a testing approach shot to within six-inches, or having slotted a difficult putt for birdie, has become something of legend on the professional circuit. So much so that “Dufnering” – a scene showing him in a slumped sitting position with an expressionless face – went viral on twitter recently.
Turning professional in 2000, Dufner first made the PGA Tour in 2004 before losing his playing rights and returning to the Nationwide Tour in 2005. He won his Tour card back for 2007, but only had conditional status for 2008. He finished T11 at Q-School that year to earn his Tour card for 2009, where he has been since. This win is his third on the PGA Tour.
Modest, totally unassuming, and for the most part absolutely expressionless, Jason Dufner looks more like a guy who’s jumped the ropes in order to get closer to the stars than one of them. On late Sunday afternoon, at Rochester, NY, he wasn’t just one of them; he was the one of them!
“I can’t believe this is happening to me,” he said, during his gracious acceptance speech.
A comment not unrelated to what he said on Friday, when asked what it felt like to be the first to shoot 63 at such a prestigious golf course. “I don’t think I’ve been the first to do anything in my life,” was his typically self-effacing response.
Starting the day just behind over-night leader Furyk, Dufner played a brilliant front-nine in three under par. He then parred 10 through 15 before sending a magnificent approach to within inches of the hole on 16, giving him a two-shot cushion over the difficult closing holes. That he closed out bogey, bogey, didn’t matter as he won by two. Dufner’s ball-striking during the four days was without equal, as indeed was his imperturbable manner.
His final round 2-under 68 can be put into better context when it is realised his longest birdie putt was circa four feet – true testament to his wonderful ball-striking. Because of this, some analysts believe his final-round 68 to be on a par with his second-round 63.
A deserving and likeable hero is Jason Dufner.
The USGA are probably breathing a massive sigh of relief that overnight leader Jim Furyk didn’t prevail. The organisation responsible for running golf in the US has become very concerned of the threat to golf’s playing numbers caused by slow play. The influence that major champions have on amateur players emulating their hero’s swing and putting routines is well known.
Had Furyk prevailed, the chances of amateurs copying his convoluted, involved, time-consuming putting routine would have sent shivers down the spine of those responsible for fast-play initiatives currently promoted by the USGA.
This win marks the third time this year that a major has gone to a first-time winner. Dufner is also the 15th first-timer in the last 19 – the same number as there has been different winners in the last 21 majors. Has major golf ever seen a more competitive era?
The last word on Dufner’s win should go to whoever it was that came up with the following: His ball-striking and unflappable demeanour under pressure was impressive, but his ability to marry out of his league was truly outstanding… as anyone who saw her on TV hugging Dufner after his win would attest. Good guys do win!
Happy golfing
Golfnutter
