golf swing golfswing002.blogspot.com: August 2013

Friday, August 30, 2013

Golf-Dufner takes run at PGA leaderboard and history

August 9, 2013

* Dufner matches lowest round in a major

* Simpson also flirts with major record

* Justin Rose stages back-nine charge (Updates at end of second round)

By Steve Keating

ROCHESTER, New York, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Jason Dufnerbrightened up a dreary day with a charge up the PGAChampionship leaderboard and a run at golf history, carding a seven-under 63 on Friday to match the best score for a round at a major.

Just hours after Webb Simpson thrilled the rain-soaked crowd with a 64, equalling the Oak Hill course record, Dufner went one better, becoming just the 24th player to shoot 63 at one of golf's four major events.

His bogey-free round also shot the laid-back American to the top of the leaderboard with a two round total of nine-under 131, giving him a two shot advantage over Australia's Adam Scott (68) and the American pairMatt Kuchar (66) and Jim Furyk (68).

Britain's U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (66), Swede Henrik Stenson (66) will start Saturday's third round one stoke further back at six-under.

Tiger Woods, stuck in a five-year major-victory drought, was unable to work his way up the leaderboard, scrapping to a level par 70 to sit a distant 10 back of the leader.

"It's tough when you're chasing history," Dufner told reporters. "You will be the first one to do something. I don't think I've been the first to do anything in my life.

"So it was a little nerve-wracking for a Friday. It's usually the pressure you might feel towards the end of the tournament but I got through it.

"I made a couple of pars, and I wish I had that putt on the last hole back again."

While the galleries were electrified by the 36-year-old's composed and masterful display, Dufner was typically blasé, showing not a hint of emotion when his approach at the second spun back into the cup for an eagle or when his approach to the 18th landed 12-feet from the hole.

As Dufner walked onto the green sizing up the historic putt, the crowd fell quiet, then groaned when it slowly rolled to halt short of its target.

"Obviously had a fantastic day today in a major championship, chased a little bit of history," said Dufner. "Came up a little short on that last putt but all-in-all I'm excited."

As the rain disappeared and the sun began to peak out from behind the clouds, there was more drama unfolding with the late starters attacking a defenseless East course with gusto.

With the sun-setting, K.J. Choi was poised to challenge the record, reaching six-under for the round with two holes to play but a bogey ended his run and he signed for a 65.

The early starters were greeted by dark skies and pounding rain at stately Oak Hill Country Club but the soggy conditions could not prevent some of the contenders from getting off to hot starts.

Scott, the joint overnight leader alongside Furyk, teed off on the back nine in the worst of the conditions but the Masters champion was unbothered by the downpour, picking up a birdie on his opening hole.

"It was raining pretty hard on and off and the course was playing tough," said Scott.

"So it was nice to get off to a good start while the tough conditions were out there and I managed to hang on.

"The course is obviously softening up and I'm sure some guys will take advantage of that but so far so good for two days."

The heavy favorite coming into this week after romping to a seven-stroke victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Woods was unable to take advantage of the soft conditions.

"I made my share, I missed my share. Just the way it goes," he said. "Obviously I'm going to have to put together a really good weekend.

"I'm going to have to do my job and shoot a good round."

Defending champion Rory McIlroy (71), eager to turn his game around after a poor season by his standards, looked headed for an early exit until a late turnaround down the stretch.

The Northern Irishman's play was as gloomy as the early weather until he roared back with four birdies over his final seven holes to get back to level par 140 for the tournament and make the cut. (Reporting by Steve Keating' Editing by Julian Linden)

Golf-Dufner fires record-tying 63 to join major club

August 9, 2013

* Misses 12-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 62

* Becomes 24th player to shoot a 63 in a major (Adds detail, quotes)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ROCHESTER, New York, Aug 9 (Reuters) - AmericanJason Dufner came agonisingly close to shooting the first 62 at a major before settling for a record-tying 63 in Friday's second round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Open.

Needing a birdie at the par-four last to etch his name into golf's history books, Dufner left his 12-foot uphill putt 18 inches short of the cup, then tapped in for par to complete a seven-under score.

Known for his unflappable and ultra-laidback persona, the 36-year-old became the 24th player to shoot a 63 at a major on a day when Oak Hill's East Course was ripe for plundering after being rain-softened during the week.

Dufner holed out with a sand wedge from the fairway to eagle the par-four second, then reeled off five birdies over the next 13 holes on the way to a two-shot lead in the year's final major, at nine-under 131.

"It was a great day for me, a good day to get out there and score," Dufner told reporters after tying the PGA Championship low for 36 holes, and improving the course record at Oak Hill by a stroke.

"Obviously the rain, the soft golf course made it scoreable but to join history, to shoot a 63 in a major, is pretty unbelievable, and to be leading the tournament is even better. Hopefully it will propel me to a great weekend."

Asked whether he had been aware of how his own round stacked up to the record books, Dufner replied: "I knew that nobody had shot 62, and the course record (of 64) I had heard on TV earlier in the week.

"So I knew where I stood and you couldn't have a better putt for a chance at history on the last hole but I just didn't quite hit it hard enough."

CHASING BIRDIE

Dufner, a double winner on the PGA Tour, was delighted with his first two shots on the final hole as he chased a sixth birdie of the day.

"I hit a great tee shot," he said. "Then I was a little bit in between clubs, in between a five and a six-iron, from 203 yards (for his approach), so I went with a six and left it in a perfect spot.

"The greens had gotten a little bit slower, obviously a little bit bumpier and I probably didn't hit the best putt, probably the worst putt I hit of the day, which is a little disappointing.

"But all in all, it's a 63, and my name is on top of the leaderboard, so that's a great position to be playing from. If I could do it over, I guess I would hit the (birdie) putt harder."

Dufner's closest bid for a major victory came in the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club where he led by five strokes while playing the fourth-last hole before losing steam.

He ended up losing the title in a playoff with PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley, but believes that experience, and his two victories on the U.S. circuit last year, can only stand him in good stead at Oak Hill this week.

"Atlanta is probably the best I've ever hit it in my career for that specific week," he said.

"I played really flawless there for 68 holes or 69 holes. That's probably the best I've hit it in my career. Today, I scored better.

"I've got more experience now playing in these major championships, winning a couple of events, being close to winning some more events since Atlanta, so that will always help."

Asked whether he was as laid-back on the inside as his demeanour suggested, Dufner smiled: "I'm probably like everybody else but I can hide it a little bit better.

"Today was a little bit unusual because just of the buzz that was going on with the round that I was producing. Usually get that buzz towards the end of the championship.

"When you're chasing history, it's tough. But in my head, I was just trying to get further and further away from the field, trying to make birdies." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Frank Pingue/Greg Stutchbury)

Tiger Woods falters again on the major stage

Tiger Woods falters again on the major stage
PAUL NEWBERRY (AP National Writer) August 9, 2013AP - Sports

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Tiger Woods wipes his face as he leaves the 19th green during the second round of the PGA Championship …

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Tiger Woods finished another disappointing round with another bogey Friday, then headed straight to the practice range.

There was a lot of work to do.

Unfortunately for Woods, it's probably too late to do anything about another major championship slipping away.

Woods plodded through an even-par 70 at Oak Hill when there were 60s all over the place, leaving him a daunting 10 shots behind leader Jason Dufner heading to the weekend of the PGA Championship.

Making the task even more difficult, there were 37 players between Dufner, who was at 9-under 131, and Woods.

''Just the way it goes,'' Woods said. ''Obviously, I need to hit it better than I have.''

He has yet to break par through two days on a course that was ripe for the taking, the greens softened by plenty of rain and receptive to iron shots from the world's best players.

Woods is certainly one of those - maybe the best ever - but he simply can't find the magic that once made him such an intimidating figure in the Grand Slam events.

He has been stuck on 14 major titles since his victory at the 2008 U.S. Open, and it looks as if he'll go through a fifth straight year without winning one of them - by far the longest drought of his career.

Even in a year when Woods has five victories on the PGA Tour, three more than anyone else, he can't put it together in the events that really matter. In 14 rounds at the major championships, he has shot in the 60s only once.

Woods bogeyed the second hole, but looked as if he might be poised for one those Tiger-like runs when he made back-to-back birdies starting at No. 5.

But, in what is becoming a familiar refrain, he couldn't keep it going.

At the par-3 11th, he dumped his tee shot into the rough in front of the green, leading to a bogey. At the 12th, he didn't even bother looking when a poor approach shot caught the right edge of the green with the flag flapping on the left, ruining any shot at a birdie. At the 14th, he drove the green on the 323-yard par-4, only to three-putt.

''I made my share and missed my share,'' he said. ''Just the way it goes.''

Woods birdied the 15th, gave it back with a bogey on 16. He caught a break at the 17th when a 15-foot birdie try rolled all the way around the back of the cup before dropping in, causing Woods' knees to buckle. He let out a deep sigh as he walked off the green, only to push his next shot into the thick rough right of the 18th fairway, ruining any shot at having some momentum going into Saturday.

There was little choice except to pitch out onto the fairway. Woods knocked it on the green from there, but didn't get it close. Two putts from 25 feet left him with a bogey and 1 over for the tournament.

Afterward, Woods headed to the practice range to work with coach Sean Foley, getting in some extra swings just before sundown.

''Obviously I'm going to have to put together a really good weekend,'' Woods said. ''This golf course is pretty soft. It's definitely gettable. I've got to hit the ball in play and keep the ball near the hole so I can be aggressive with my putts.''

Maybe he figured out what went wrong.

Hey, there's always next year.

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Dufner holds off Furyk at PGA for 1st major title

PAUL NEWBERRY (AP National Writer) August 12, 2013AP - Sports

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Jason Dufner walked off the 18th green, after casually pumping his fists in what passed for a raucous celebration. There was a familiar face waiting for him.

The last time they met in this situation, it was Keegan Bradley accepting the Wanamaker Trophy.

This time, it belonged to Dufner.

Granted, it was two years later than it should have been. That only made it sweeter.

''I'm proud of you,'' Bradley said, giving his buddy a hug.

''Thanks a lot,'' Dufner replied. ''It means a lot for you to be here.''

With ice in his veins and a determination not to let another opportunity slip away, Dufner claimed his first major title with a two-shot victory over Jim Furyk in the PGA Championship on Sunday.

There was a certain symmetry to the way it went down, for Dufner to get the biggest win of his career in the very same tournament that produced his biggest heartache.

On a Sunday afternoon in 2011, Dufner strolled to the 15th tee at Atlanta Athletic Club with a four-shot lead in the PGA. He promptly dumped his ball in the water, while Bradley started making birdies up ahead. By the time they had both finished 72 holes, it was all even.

Bradley, of course, won the playoff.

Dufner kept insisting he would get another chance.

''I was probably over what happened in Atlanta, 95 percent of it, by the time we got back home,'' he said.

But, he conceded, ''You always carry those scars with you.''

They didn't show on a warm, sunny day at Oak Hill, a venerable course that Dufner considers one of his favorites.

After he rolled in a testy little 3-footer to save par at the first hole, he went on cruise control. His tee shots were long and accurate. His irons were dead solid perfect. If not for some shaky strokes with the putter, he would've won this thing by a much greater margin.

As it was, there was nothing too dramatic about the final two hours.

Just as one would expect from the guy who gave us ''Dufnering.''

''I would say I was pretty flat-lined for most of the day,'' he said. ''For whatever reason, I felt really comfortable, really calm, and felt like I could do it.''

Until the final major of 2013, Dufner had endured a mostly forgettable year. His most noteworthy moment came in April, when he was caught on camera during a charity appearance at an elementary school - sitting on the floor, propped up against a wall of the classroom, arms rigidly at his side, a dazed look on his face.

It turned out to be his calling card.

''Ran with it and it helped me a lot,'' Dufner said. ''I got a lot of fans because of it and people identified with me through it.''

Down a stroke to Furyk at the start of the round, and all even as they went to the eighth hole, Dufner knocked his approach shot past the flag and spun the ball back in his direction, watching it roll to a stop about a foot from the cup for as easy a birdie as you're likely to see. Or, more accurate, would see three times on this day. That's how well Dufner was striking the ball.

At the ninth, Dufner pulled off a nifty up-and-down to save par, while Furyk wasted a tee shot in the fairway and made bogey. Suddenly, the margin was two shots as they made the turn.

That's how it remained, all the way around the back nine, as the two guys in the final group posted the exact same score on every hole.

''I wish I could have put a little heat on him,'' Furyk said, ''make him work those last two holes a little bit harder.''

Furyk bogeyed the final two holes for a 1-over 71. Dufner did the same, leaving him with a 68 for the final round and at 10-under 270 overall.

He finished it off with a tap-in from a few inches away.

About as exciting as Dufner himself.

''I had a bit of a cushion there,'' he said, before taking a poke at his struggles on the greens. ''That last putt was in the perfect range for me to make. There's not much to celebrate from six inches or less, but it's nice to have that short of a putt to cap this off.''

Henrik Stenson (70) finished three shots back, missing a chance to become the first Swedish man to capture a major championship. Another Swede, Jonas Blixt, was four behind the winner.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were long gone by the time the leaders teed off.

Woods' winless streak in the majors is now more than five years long, and this one was especially perplexing. Just a week earlier, he wrapped up a dominating seven-stroke victory at the Bridgestone. He never got anything going at Oak Hill, putting up four straight rounds in the 70s and finishing a whopping 14 shots behind Dufner.

''Just the way it goes,'' Woods said.

Mickelson was only three weeks removed from one of the greatest closing rounds in major championship history at Muirfield, rallying to claim his first British Open title.

Lefty apparently left his swing on the other side of the Atlantic. After four days of spraying shots all over the place, he finished 22 shots behind in a tie for 72nd place. Only two players fared worse on the weekend.

Dufner is looking ahead to bigger things. He wants to win more tournaments, win more majors, get in the mix for team events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. He's also got plans at home, picking up a sapling from the general manager at Oak Hill. He'll plant it on the new spread he and his wife are building in Alabama.

''First major championship at Oak Hill,'' he said. ''Some of their oak trees out there hopefully on our property.''

And, please, no more questions about what happened in Atlanta.

''(Bradley) always jabbed at me a little bit about having one of these in his house, and thanks for giving it to him and all that stuff,'' Dufner said, the Wanamaker Trophy at his side.

''Now, I've got one, too.''

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Nice trophy, big check. But how about that tree?

RACHEL COHEN (AP Sports Writer) August 12, 2013AP - Sports

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Golf, not gardening is Jason Dufner's strong suit.

But the just-crowned PGA Championship winner decided he wanted something more to remember Oak Hill by than the usual souvenirs - a hefty check, a gleaming trophy and a host of good memories.

So he and wife Amanda spoke with the club's general manager and arranged to have a sapling from the course nursery shipped to a 50-acre site near Auburn, Ala., where the couple is building a home. Amanda said her husband had a feeling he'd do well in the tournament, and in the middle of the second round Friday, Dufner walked over to the gallery ropes and handed over a couple of acorns he'd picked up.

But just to be safe, they'll have the sapling.

''So at least that one will take root,'' Dufner laughed. ''I will have some trees out there, and it will be a neat experience - first major championship at Oak Hill and hopefully, have some of their oak trees out there on the property.''

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CLOTHES MAKE THE CADDIE: Steve Williams, who works for Adam Scott and used to caddie for Tiger Woods, was supposed to wear a yellow bib for Sunday's final round, but somehow wound up wearing a white one.

PGA officials told Scott to make sure Williams switched colors, but the plan went nowhere.

''There was no controversy,'' Scott assured reporters after the round.

''I bogeyed the first and I forgot because I was nervy. I forgot to ask him to change, so he never did.''

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RORY ROARING BACK? Defending champion Rory McIlroyfinished tied for eighth.

But it was something he may have found - his golf game - that made handing back the trophy a little easier to take.

In a season without any titles, he posted his best showing in a major this season and gave himself an outside shot at victory. He had a 4-foot birdie putt Sunday that would have moved him to 5 under, but missed. Then a triple-bogey 7 at No. 5 sealed his fate.

He finished with a 70 to close the tournament at 3 under.

Considering McIlroy was in danger of missing the cut midway through the second round, the PGA could go down as the moment that he rediscovered his game and his optimism. The FedEx Cup playoffs will offer a chance to prove this week was a turnaround, not a fluke.

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KOEPKA'S NEW NEIGHBORHOOD: Brooks Koepka lives down the road from Tiger Woods, though the two don't usually run into each other on the course.

The 23-year-old American chose Europe's Challenge Tour as his route to golf's top levels. He earned promotion to the European Tour in June.

With a special exemption from the PGA of America, he teed off in this week's PGA Championship and made the cut at a major for the first time in three tries. Grabbing a bite to eat after his third round Saturday, he saw on TV that Tiger Woods was at 4 over, the same score as Koepka. He hoped it stayed that way so the two could play together in the final round.

Sure enough, Koepka got to meet Woods for the first time on the putting green Sunday before they played 18 holes together. Koepka shot a 7-over 77, while Woods had a 70.

''I think everyone my age admired him growing up,'' said Koepka, who went to Florida State. ''He's the reason I'm playing. It was a bunch of fun to play with him. Nice guy. Hell of a player.''

New to the experience of the large crowds hovering off every shot of Woods' group, Koepka bogeyed three of his first four holes then made a triple bogey on No. 5.

''It's hard that first tee,'' he said. ''That was pretty neat. Just hearing everybody, it was unbelievable the people shouting his name. Obviously, I have seen it growing up and things like that, but when you are actually out there it was definitely a little different.''

Koepka lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and is considering joining Woods' home club, The Medalist, a topic they chatted about on the course Sunday. Koepka had seen the world's top-ranked golfer at the club a couple of times in the past, but ''obviously he had no clue who I am.''

Now he knows.

''Really talented. Good kid,'' Woods said.

''It's good to see,'' he added about Koepka's ascension to the European Tour. ''Good, old-fashioned work pays off, and he should be proud of it.''

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MICKELSON WRAPS UP: Three weeks ago, Phil Mickelson was introduced as the ''champion golfer of the year'' after winning the British Open. On Sunday, he finished the PGA Championship with little fanfare after rallying for a 72 to finish at the bottom of the pack.

''I didn't play very well the last two weeks. I'm not going to worry about it,'' Mickelson said.

Lefty was thrilling as always. During a six-hole stretch on the front nine, he had one par, one bogey, one double bogey, one triple bogey and two birdies. He played the back nine with two birdies and no bogeys.

He was headed home to San Diego to tinker with his short game, otherwise take five days off and then start hitting balls to get ready for the FedEx Cup playoffs. They start at Liberty National and TPC Boston, and Mickelson said he would have a driver in the bag for both tournaments. He had been using only a strong 3-wood.

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DIVOTS: Tim Clark had the only hole-in-one of the tournament. At the 11th on Sunday, he knocked it in from 220 yards with a hybrid. ... CBS Sports said its third-round coverage had an overnight rating of 3.0 with an 8 share, compared with a 2.3/5 for last year, when the third round at Kiawah Island was interrupted by rain.