Tour News
“Dufining moment” — Dufner wins the Zurich Classic
By James Dalthorp
GolfWRX Staff Writer
Two weeks ago in the first round at Hilton Head, Jason Dufner had one of those moments where a lot of golfers may have lost their cool. After waiting for two groups to hit on the 14th tee, the 35-year-old dunked his tee shot on the par 3 into the water and walked to the 15th tee at 8-over for the round.
Up to that point, the big picture may have seemed clear but the future? Cloudy. To recap his year: Three 18 or 36 hole leads on Tour in 2012 resulted in only a best finish of 8th place over two months where his name led some of golf’s biggest events. The Masters, The WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral and The Transitions. His weekend scoring average, ranked outside of the top 100 on Tour, consisted of eight over-par rounds in 10 events. Among other records haunting him, a five shot lead blown in three holes at the 2011 PGA Championship. Back to Hilton Head, he birdies the next hole — then plays his next 44 holes with no bogeys and nine birdies on one of golf’s toughest tests. He finished T24. One great April Sunday afternoon deserved another – and new scenery at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans would be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Dufner won a two-hole playoff with Ernie Els after a two-putt birdie on the par five 18th at TPC Louisiana. It’s his first career professional win, eradicating him of the label “only player ranked in the top 50 in the world without a win.” This week caps a remarkable journey for the Dufner camp. Just a week from his win, he is due to be married near his alma mater Auburn University to his fiancée, Amanda.
Dufner tied Ernie Els in regulation at 19-under with 67-65-67-70. The par-72 TPC Louisiana layout yielded its lowest 72-hole total since it was hosted at the club in 2005. Dufner held off the two-time U.S. Open champion Els, among others, with some remarkable shots under pressure.
Tied for the lead on the 70th hole, a hooked 3 wood left Dufner in the water hazard, forcing him to drop. A missed wedge left him with 43 feet for par – and Dufner drained it with the composure that makes him one of the coolest customers in the game. Els saved his own par at the 17th, but both players parred in to keep things tied – even with birdie attempts on the par 5 18th. Dufner won on the second playoff hole with a two-foot putt after Els missed the 18th fairway, forcing a lengthy birdie putt from the fringe to have a chance. A short putt later, the normally stoic Dufner raised his arms in celebration.
“The Zurich Classics always been one of my favorite stops here on Tour. I’ve had some really nice results here. To get my first victory out here on the PGA Tour, it means a lot to me. To do it here in New Orleans, at the Zurich Classic, is a great thing. To know I’ll be coming back here as a defending champion next year and for years to come coming back here as a champion is a really big honor for me.”
Dufner has had solid finishes here in the past. T3 in 2011, T7 in 2010, T9 in 2009.
“It’s just a very comfortable spot for me.”
Dufner will get married in Alabama and then play the next three events, a honeymoon planned later in the year. Dufner said he feels a lot of relief from the win, and that he’s looking forward to focusing on playing good golf. He will compete the following three weeks of his marriage at the Players Championship, Byron Nelson Classic, HP Byron Nelson Classic, and Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
James Dalthorp covers the PGA Tour full-time for www.Golfmanna.com and assists CBS Sports productions. You can follow him on Twitter @jd3golf
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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zenny pedroza
May 1, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Hi Jason, congratulations! You deserve it. I am very happy that i saw you won on your 1st PGA Tour Championship. I hope I will see your smile when you got married. Goodluck and best wishes.