Dufner .... two wins and a wedding this month

JASON DUFNER almost broke into a smile today after winning his second US PGA Tour event in three weeks.

Dufner (67) sunk a 25 foot birdie putt on the final hole of the 2012 Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort to take the title by a stroke.

The 35 year old also got married in the last couple of weeks but not much breaks through the immutable Dufner façade.

“Two wins and to get married in the same month – it doesn’t get much better professionally or personally,” he said.

Dufner’s 11-under total edged out fellow American Dicky Pride (67), who was looking for his first win since 1994, while Australia’s Marc Leishman (66) finished tied for third along with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (66) and Americans Joe Durant (65) and JJ Henry (68).

Leishman continued his good form of the earlier rounds and was in contention coming down the stretch but a bogey on the last didn’t help.

Jason Day started the final round on 7-under and was had a chance to repeat his 2009 victory in the event but after a bogey on the 4th never really got going and faded with a 72.

After waiting six years for his first win, Dufner now has two and shoots to the top of the season long FedEx Cup and can just about book his spot on the 2012 US Ryder Cup team.

If you think those successes added to the nearly three million odd million dollars he has won this month will really get the celebrations going, consider the last two Q&A’s at his winner’s media conference:

Q. When fans watch you on TV or see you in person, you look extraordinarily calm and nonexpressive, even in victory. When you get back to the hotel room will you let out a primal scream or chest bump Kevin when you see him?

JASON DUFNER: No, none of that.

Q. Do you ever get extra expressive?

JASON DUFNER: Here and there a couple of times a year. Usually there is some alcohol involved or Auburn football, but for the most part I’m laid back. We’ll head over to Ft. Worth, check into the hotel, get dinner, chat, and we will be on to next week at the Colonial. We will celebrate a little bit, but I’m pretty laid back all the time for the most part.

Nick Flanagan .. could be a career reviving win

AUSTRALIA’S Nick Flanagan has beaten compatriot Percy Cameron in a playoff for the Nationwide Tour’s 2012 BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina.

It was a lucky win for the 28-year-old who hasn’t tasted victory on the US secondary tour since his standout 2007 season when his three wins earned him a battlefield promotion to the main tour.

The Novocastrian only lasted a year on the PGA Tour and this was only his second start this year.

Fortunes changed for the two Aussies on the final hole of regulation where one shot leader Percy spoilt his blemish free six-birdie round with a bogey that put him back to 15-under.

Flanagan was down by one in the group immediately behind and looked like he had hooked his approach shot on the par-4 into the grandstand but it careered off a television cameraman back onto the green where the grateful Aussie sunk a 15 foot birdie putt.

“Sometimes it’s better to be lucky rather than good, obviously. You’ve got to take every break you can get out here,” Flanagan said after bettering Percy on their third playoff hole.

Percy has had quite a good year but is yet to win on the Nationwide Tour and was rueful after spraying his drive on the third playoff hole into the trees.

“I just hit a bad tee shot on that last one,” the Victorian said. “I tried to hit it too hard. When it hit the path I was in all kinds of trouble.”

Flanagan collected US$108,000 for his efforts and vaulted all the way to No. 11 on the money list with two-thirds of the season yet to go. The 25 leading money winners at the end of the year will move onto the PGA Tour in 2013.

Flanagan believes he would make a better go of it than in 2008 when he made only 16 cuts in 29 starts and failed to keep his card.

“I got out there and didn’t feel very comfortable. The atmosphere is different and then I started struggling,” said Flanagan. “I was battling week to week the whole time. When you’re playing bad every week it’s hard to get motivated to play sometimes. At times I didn’t feel like I fit in. If I can get back there again I think I’ll be able to adapt a little easier.”

Percy did have the consolation of another strong finish on the Nationwide with his runners-up cheque moving him to sixth position on the money list whilst fellow Australian Alistair Presnell (21st) is also in the top 25.

Adam Scott ... 2008 Champion

AUSTRALIAN golfers will be hoping to break their duck on the US PGA Tour so far this year with both Adam Scott and Jason Day recent winners of the upcoming event in Irving, Texas.

Scott hasn’t played in the Byron Nelson Championship since he won it in 2008 and was also tied for third in 2006.

The event was Day’s maiden US Tour victory in 2010 and he went close to repeating the win when he was just a couple of shots off the playoff won by Keegan Bradley last year.

Both were feeling confident about their games in the lead up to the event this week, staged at the TPC Four Seasons Resort.

The highest ranked golfer in the field is last weekend’s winner Matt Kucher who has moved up to world No.5 and there is also world No.10 Phil Mickelson to contend with.

Other notables include major winners Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington while Steven Bowditch, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Mathew Goggin, Nathan Green, Greg Chalmers, Nick O’Hern, Gavin Coles, Pampling and Monday qualifier  Stuart Deane  round out the Australian contingent.

There is one more Aussie with British Amateur winner Bryden McPherson receiving a late sponsors’ exemption to make his professional debut at the event.

Scott will play the first two rounds in a feature grouping with Mickelson and Els and comes fresh from a T15 finish at the Players on Sunday. He feels his 9th tour victory is not far off.

“My game is all right there. I just have to tighten it up a little bit somehow. It feels like I’m almost perfect for 65 of 72 holes,” Scott said this week. “I play so many good holes every week but just a couple of mistakes cost me.”

The 31-year-old disagrees with suggestions he just isn’t playing enough golf with this being just his 6th start this year.

“I don’t think so. I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been to play,” he said. “I believe this year my putting hasn’t been as good as last year and that has been what hasn’t allowed any momentum, or created some, or kept it going. My proximity to the hole is probably not quite as close as well and it puts a little bit more pressure on. But I know it’s really close to coming all together.”

2012 Byron Nelson Championship TV Times

The event is being telecast in Australia on Fox Sports with live coverage beginning early Friday morning.

1st Round, Friday 5am – 8am; 2nd Round, Saturday 5am – 8am; 3rd Round, Sunday 5am – 8am; Final Round, Monday 5am – 8am.

2012 Byron Nelson Championship Leaderboard

Kuchar takes golf's "fifth major"

MATT KUCHAR held his nerve over the punishing TPC Sawgrass final stretch for a two shot win at the 2012 Players Championship today in Florida.

The 33 year old became the first American in five years to win what is regarded as golf’s unofficial fifth major.

Kuchar started a stroke behind Kevin Na, the 54 hole leader despite having excruciating-to-watch issues with his take-away, and closed with a two under 70 to finish at 13-under.

A birdie on the sixteenth gave Kuchar a three shot buffer but he bogeyed the signature 17th par 3 island hole and admitted to having trouble even walking up the 18th because he was so nervous.

“I’m about to buckle, it’s such an amazing feeling,” a beaming Kuchar said. “To do it on Mother’s Day, while staying with Mum and Dad, it’s just magical.”

It was Kuchar’s fourth US PGA Tour victory and as well as the AUD$1.7 million winners cheque collected 600 Fedex Cup points to put him in sixth place in that season long race.

Scotland’s Martin Laird (67) shared second place with Americans Rickie Fowler (70), Zach Johnson (68) and Ben Curtis (68) while Kevin Na followed a growing tournament tradition of the third round leader posting a big Sunday number. That was a 76 that saw him slip to 8-under tied for 7th.

Geoff Ogilvy was the top placed Aussie, peaking on Sunday for the second successive week with his 69 putting him 6-under and tied for 12th.

“I played pretty well all week and this is a stepping stone I guess. I’m hitting the ball really well, I just need to make more putts,” Ogilvy said.

Adam Scott started the tournament well with a 68 and 70 but a 74 on Saturday put him behind the eight-ball. He closed with a 71 to finish a stroke behind Ogilvy at T15.

“I had some good stuff out there but some horrible mistakes also as I was kind of going for it a bit,” Scott said.

“I compounded a few mistakes by not being terribly smart. I played my way almost out of it yesterday and with three doubles in the week it makes it very tough.”

Marc Leishman finished on even in 45th, with Rod Pampling 3-over at T56 and Robert Allenby 4-over tied for 61st.

Tiger Woods had a disappointing tournament, closing with a 73 to finish tied for 40th, but at least made the cut unlike a number of notables including Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.

The US PGA Tour moves to Irving, Texas this week for the 2012 HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort where Keegan Bradley is the defending champion

Adam Scott ... 2004 Champion

THE Players Championship is unofficially regarded as golf’s fifth major and the 2012 version certainly has the prize purse and field to match the reputation.

Most of the world’s top golfers will line up this week at the famed TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida to battle for the A$1.68 million winner’s cheque.

With one of golf’s richest purses of A$9.34 million on offer, even the runner up earns a seven figure sum.

The field includes all but one of the current world top ten, with only world No.4 Bubba Watson absent, and 21 major winners.

Watson, the 2012 US Masters Champion, said he was taking the month off to bond with his wife and newly adopted 2 year old son Caleb.

That still leaves, in order of world ranking, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer, Webb Simpson and Phil Mickelson.

Past winners taking part include defending champion KJ Choi, Adam Scott (2004), Sergio Garcia (2008) and dual title holder Fred Couples (1984, 1996).

As well as Scott there are nine other Aussie golfers taking part including Jason Day, Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Geoff Ogilvy, Marc Leishman, Nick O’Hern, Rod Pampling and the in-form John Senden.

Australia hasn’t had a winner on the PGA Tour this year, one of the worst starts to a season in years, but maybe this weekend can be the turning point.

Scott has had limited outings this year but has primed himself for the major events and did show some form on Sunday at Augusta.

Ogilvy has also had a comparatively poor start to the year but had a season low 65 at the Wells Fargo Championship last Sunday.

Day says he has been dogged by injuries but after a T9 at the Wells Fargo is feeling confident.

“The year has been a bit of a bummer because of the injuries but last week it seemed to come together for most of the week and it is a good confidence builder,” he said at the course this week.

“I grew up on greens like this back in Queensland and I feel like I can read them very well. I am looking forward to contending here but I want to keep a level head and not pump myself up too much.

“Like I said, the reality is I am in a really good place right now, I have a kid on the way, I don’t have any worries, my health is back so I’m just happy and that should translate to stress-free smart golf.”

Of course a real star every year at The Players is the par three 17th hole.

It is a mere 137 yards but most of that is over water to the distinctive island green.

2012 The Players Championship TV Times

The event is being telecast in Australia on Fox Sports with live coverage beginning very early morning (AEST) for keen golf fans.

1st Round, Friday 3am – 9am; 2nd Round, Saturday 3am – 9am; 3rd Round, Sunday 4am – 9am; Final Round, Monday 4am – 9am.

2012 The Players Championship Live Leaderboard

Mickelson tees off during the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne

PHIL MICKELSON’S obvious love of golf was rewarded this week with his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 41 year old American was acknowledged for an ongoing career that so far includes 42 wins, four majors, two World Golf Championships, eight Ryder Cup teams and every Presidents Cup team since it began in 1994.

Also inducted on Monday night were Scotland’s two-time major champion Sandy Lyle, golf writer Dan Jenkins, British player-turned-broadcaster Peter Alliss, and four-time LPGA major champion Hollis Stacy.

That brought membership in the Hall of Fame to 141, nearly half of them since it moved to the World Golf Village in 1998. It was the second straight year following on from Ernie Els in 2011 that a current player still ranked in the top 20 was inducted.

Tongue-in-cheek, Mickelson thanked his large fan base.

“There have been a lot of times where I’ve struggled, and it’s been their energy that’s helped pull me through,” he said. “I’ve tried to reciprocate by launching drive after drive in their general direction.”

Mickelson fronted up the next day for the 2012 Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass, where he is one of the favourites, and spoke of his love for the game.

“It’s everything about the game,” Mickelson said when asked what he particularly liked about golf. “Whether it’s just the challenge of making contact and hitting the ball or the challenge of being creative and hitting shots around the greens.”

The affection goes back a long way.

“I loved going out there on a rainy day practicing under the palm tree when nobody was around hitting balls out onto the par-three course where I grew up,” he said.

“I love going down to the club and just hanging out, hanging out and spending time with the guys before and after a round. I just love everything about the game.

“It’s been such a big part of my life, that I’m very appreciative that I get to do what I do. I’d like to see other people enjoy it the way I do.”

Fowler ... now has a winning Sunday outfit

THE VERY COLOURFUL Rickie Fowler has finally claimed his first US PGA Tour victory winning a three-way playoff at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship.

Dressed in his now customary Sunday bright orange outfit, the 23 year old American beat arch rival Rory McIlroy and fellow countryman DA Points on the first playoff hole at the Quail Hollow Country Club in North Carolina.

Whilst it was the young Northern Irishman who blasted his three wood off the 18th tee well past the efforts with drivers of his two competitors, it was Fowler who came up with a career-changing wedge shot to within four foot of the hole.

He sunk the birdie to take his first win on the tour in 67 professional attempts.

“It’s going to be kind of a relief,” Fowler said. “It’s been a wait, but I’m definitely still young, and hopefully this opens the door to many more. But it’s nice to be mentioned as a PGA TOUR winner.”

Fowler lost a playoff in just his second tour start as a pro in 2009 and with a number of following close finishes was aware he was getting a reputation for falling at the last hurdle.

“It’s nice to kind of shut them up a little bit,” Fowler said with a big grin.

All was not lost for 22 year old McIlroy who regained his world No.1 ranking from Luke Donald with his equal second placing.

Fowler shot a final round 69 to finish on 14-under with McIlroy

(70) and Points (71) while local resident and club member Webb Simpson (73) was one stroke further back alone in fourth. Lee Westwood (66), Ben Curtis (67) and Ryan Moore (74) tied for fifth on 11-under.

Back from injury, Jason Day (70) showed some touches of form to finish as the best placed Aussie at 9-under tied for 9th, while early round standout John Senden faded with a 74 to finish tied for 15th on 8-under.

Geoff Ogilvy had looked threatening with his third round 65 but had 10 more than that on Sunday to finish on 7-under tied for 21st.

Norman back on the Champions Tour

AUSSIE golfing icon Greg Norman has confirmed as a starter in the 2012 Senior Players Championship at the Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pennsylvania in late June.

The event is the third of five Majors on the 2012 US Champions Tour schedule and will likely pit the Shark against old sparring partner Fred Couples, who is the defending champion.

In all around 78 top older golfers will take part in the event, including fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members Tom Kite, Hale Irwin and 2012 inductee Sandy Lyle.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship in late June,” Norman said this week. “This will undoubtedly be one of the more challenging fields of the year on a classic golf course at Fox Chapel. Combine that with the strong Pittsburgh fan base and the event is sure to be a huge success.”

Norman has had 11 previous starts on the Champions Tour, restricted to golfers 50 and over, with his best finish third at the 2005 Senior British Open Championship.

A win this year would see him join Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd and Couples as the only players to win both THE PLAYERS Championship and the SENIOR PLAYERS.

Champions Tour in Texas

Meanwhile, the tour moves to Texas this week for the 2012 Insperity Championship at The Woodlands Country Club.

Once again Peter Senior will be the lone Aussie and will battle a quality field that includes Couples, Charles Schwab Cup points leader Michael Allen, Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman.

Live Television Coverage

The 2012 Insperity Championship is actually scheduled to receive live television coverage on Fox Sports at some very accessible times:

1st Round, Saturday 8.30 – 10.30am; 2nd Round, Sunday 8.30 – 11.30am; Final Round, Monday 9 – 11.30am.

2012 Insperity Championship Leaderboard

Jason Day still not 100% fit

A NUMBER of big names will be back in action on the US PGA Tour this week for the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship at the Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jason Day are among those having their first starts since the US Masters.

Next week is the “unofficial” fifth Major – The Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass – and the world’s best are looking to get back into form in the lead up to the US Open.

McIlroy obviously wasn’t happy with his T40 finish at Augusta at reportedly left the golf clubs behind when he flew to Europe to spend some time with his tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniaki.

“I’m trying to find the perfect balance between golf and having a normal life and everything else,” McIlroy said this week. “For me there’s more to life than just golf. I don’t know if people are surprised to hear that, but I have a lot more going on in my life than just golf.”

McIlroy flew back to south Florida last week and spent time working with his instructor Michael Bannon and fitness coach Steve McGregor and is now itching to get back to work at a tournament he won in 2010 with a 62 in the final round he said was “probably the best” he’d ever played.

“It’s always nice to come back to somewhere where you’ve had success at,” the Northern Irishman said.

At the ripe old age of 22 McIlroy is already worried about pacing his career and has cut back his schedule this year to just 23 events.

“I don’t want to be burned out by the time I’m 30,” he said. “I want to try and prolong my career as much as I can. I sometimes take a little bit too much out of myself, especially at the end of the season. … Basically the most important time for me in the golf season is from the start of April until the end of August. That’s when all the big tournaments are and that’s when you want to play your best golf.”

Woods reckons his golf swing is back in sync

Tiger Woods shared 40th place with McIlroy at the Masters, failing to make par in any round, but reckons his swing is in much better shape now.

“At the Masters, I was kind of struggling with my ball striking a little bit,” an understated Woods said this week. “Sean and I fixed it. It had to do with posture. My setup wasn’t quite right, as well as my takeaway, so we worked on that.” That doesn’t sound like something you’d bet the house on.

This time last year Jason Day was riding the crest of a wave of success but things haven’t been so hunky-dory in 2012.

Day pulled out of the Masters with an ankle injury and admits he still isn’t fully fit.

”It’s feeling a lot better,” the 24 year old said. ”It takes about six weeks to fully heal, and I have taken about four weeks off but the pain is gone. I don’t think it will be an issue.”

He will use this week’s event to ease back into competition before going all out at The Players next week and the Byron Nelson Championship the following week. That’s the tournament he won in 2010 and it is still his only Tour win.

”I won’t be going full bore at it this week but it’s part of three big tournaments in a row I want to play well in,” he said.

Mickelson is in perhaps the best form of all after his T3 at Augusta but others with a chance include Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan and Keegan Bradley.

The Aussie contingent also includes Aaron Baddeley, Marc Leishman,  Geoff Ogilvy, Nathan Green, Mathew Goggin, Robert Allenby, Nick O’Hern, Stuart Appleby, John Senden and Gavin Coles.

2012 Wells Fargo Championship TV Times

The event is being telecast in Australian on Fox Sports: 1st Round, Friday 5am – 8am; 2nd Round, Saturday 5am – 8am, 3rd Round, 5am – 8am, Final Round, Sunday, 5am – 8am.

2012 Wells Fargo Championship Live Leaderboard

Dufner .... first US PGA Tour win

A WEEK before his wedding, America’s Jason Dufner has lost his US PGA Tour virginity with his maiden win in a playoff against a man who has done it all before, South Africa’s Ernie Els.

Dufner gets married next Saturday but in true golfing style the honeymoon will have to wait till later in the year.

“It’s hard to schedule a wedding in the middle of the season. There’s a lot of great events out here. It seems like there’s a big event or Major right around the corner every week now until, you know, Augusta,” the 35 year old said.

Such devotion to the great game should be rewarded and so it was today after Dufner and Els had finished even on 19-under in regulation at the 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Dufner had started the day at the TPC Louisiana with a two stroke lead and posted a solid if unspectacular 2-under 70 while a sprightly 42 year old Els hit a 5-under 67.

The American had been on the tour for six years and had three second placings under his belt while three-time Major winner Els was looking for what would have been his 19th tour win after a two year dry spell.

It took two playoff attempts on the par five 18th hole before Dufner had a foot long birdie putt to take the championship.

“It was tough trying to get this first win, it was tough for about six years now,” Dufner told a television interviewer immediately afterwards. “It’s a monkey off my back.”

While the honeymoon has to wait, the wedding ceremony will certainly benefit both monetary wise with the US$1,152,000 winner’s cheque and maybe with some added exuberance from the perennially laid-back Dufner.

“[Weddings] are a little built more expensive than I thought or had imagined but, you know, it’s just a great way to start our week leading up to the wedding next week and bit of a gift for [wife Amanda] and a bit of a gift for me and I think it will be, you know, a big celebration not only for our marriage but also for my first victory out on TOUR..” Dufner said.

Donald back as World No.1

Meanwhile, England’s Luke Donald also managed a 5-under 67 to take outright third place and regain his World No.1 ranking from Rory McIlroy.

The USA’s Ryan Palmer (69) and Canada’s Graham DeLaet (71) were tied for fourth on 16 under.

Australia’s Greg Chalmers shot a course record equalling 64 in the second round to be hovering at the top of the leaderboard but came home with a 72 and 73 on the weekend to finish on 9-under tied for 30th.

He still finished as the best placed Aussie in front of John Senden who closed with a 3-under 69 to be T39, Geoff Ogilvy (68), Matt Jones (71) and Stuart Appleby (73) all equal on 7-under tied for 45th.

The tour now moves to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship  where the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Jason Day and Aaron Baddleley will be back on deck in the week leading up to the 2012 Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass in Florida.