2013 US PGA Championship: Jason Dufner is now a major champion
Jason Dufner wins his first major winning the US PGA Championship by two strokes.
One of the first people to congratulate Jason Dufner on becoming a major champion was Keegan Bradley. He gave Dufner a quick hug as he made his way to the scorers hut knowing only too well what it’s like to win the US PGA Championship.
It was Bradley who had outplayed Dufner to win the 2011 US PGA Championship in a playoff after Dufner had relinquished a five shot lead with four holes to play.
At the time people were asking who either of them were, but two years on and both Bradley and Dufner have evolved into two of the most consistent golfers on the PGA Tour. In fact Dufner hadn’t finished any worse than a tie for 31st at the seven major championships since.
Jason Dufner played near flawless golf today to outgun a slow, but precise Jim Furyk to win the 2013 US PGA Championship.
The reserved, tobacco chewing, often lackadaisical looking Dufner was in complete control of his game for most of the day. Even as Dufner arrived at the par-3 15th hole and golf fans recalled his five stroke lead disappear at the same stage of the 2011 US PGA Championship, Dufner’s game held firm.
His three-putt bogey at the 17th was his first in 26 holes but it came at the same time as Furyk made bogey after a tough chip shot failed to get onto the green and he was granted a two-stroke lead going to the final hole.
Both players again made bogey at the 18th but it was good enough for Dufner to finish at 10-under for the tournament and win by two shots.
The Aussies
Adam Scott struggled for most of the weekend. He started the final round four shots behind after a costly double bogey late in his third round and he couldn’t make many putts needed to get in touch with the leaders.
Scott recorded his third top-5 finish at the majors for the year though and will be pleased he continues to prepare perfectly for the big events and get himself in contention.
Jason Day found his ‘A’ game on the final day and despite an early bogey, he rattled off seven birdies in 10 holes to pull within a few shots of the lead with five holes to play.
With nothing to lose Day went for broke over the closing holes making three bogeys on the final three holes eventually settling for a courageous 3-under par 67 and his third top-10 finish in majors this year.
Marc Leishman didn’t get the attention the other two Australians got this week but played some consistent golf to force his way into the top-20.
