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 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
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.