Adam Scott's dramatic play-off victory at the Masters set 2013's golfing tone. Justin Rose was equally imperious when taking the US Open title. At Muirfield last month Phil Mickelson's brilliant Sunday charge was rightly heralded as among the best in major history. The 36-year-old Dufner went about his business here with a minimum of fuss which is simply in keeping with his character as well as a contrast to what had come before.
Dufner thereby made up for his heartache in this tournament two years ago when he collapsed from a position of five strokes in front with four holes to play at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Dufner was to lose a play-off there, to Keegan Bradley.
In upstate New York Dufner supplied a formidable display of front-running after quickly heading the 54-hole leader, Jim Furyk. A closing round of 68 ensured a two-shot win, with Furyk left as Dufner's closest challenger. Bradley was greenside at the 18th to congratulate the man from Ohio.
"This hasn't hit me yet," said Dufner, who shot a record-equalling 63 in the second round. "It is a great step in my career. I just decided that I was going to be confident. I was going to put my best foot forward and try to win this thing."
Furyk has endured turbulent times of his own. He should have won last year's US Open but threw the tournament away in the closing stretch. Furyk also cut a noticeably wounded figure when the United States were defeated in the last Ryder Cup, at Medinah. After that he publicly rued the worst spell in his professional life.
But Furyk can take solace from the fact he did little wrong on Sunday at Oak Hill. Instead Dufner kicked on to leave those closest to him playing for second place. "I played my heart out," said Furyk. "I have no regrets.
"I told Jason what a great round he played and what respect I have for him."
Scott never reached better than seven under on Sunday, Jonas Blixt held his nerve admirably in what represented fresh surroundings to finish fourth at six under and Henrik Stenson, who has supplied an endearing return to the summit of world golf, had a 70 for minus seven. Scott Piercy and David Toms made fourth-round moves which secured a tie for fifth and seventh places respectively.
Dufner continues the rising trend of first-time major winners. Since 2008 only Rory McIlroy and Mickelson have claimed multiple titles. Depending on one's outlook, that statistic either highlights the depth in quality of fields or reduces these tournaments to the level of a lottery in which the finest players in the world do not compete at the summit of leaderboards.
What can be said without fear of contradiction is that it is more difficult now for Tiger Woods to add to his 14 major wins than it has ever been.
McIlroy and Lee Westwood, who started six shots adrift of the lead but retaining hope of at least applying pressure, made fatal early stumbles. McIlroy birdied the 3rd to move to four under but disaster followed two holes later. The pin placement at the 5th was dubiously tight to the water hazard but McIlroy's nine-iron approach looked a club short and rolled back on to the pebbles which surround Allen's Creek.
McIlroy's mood hardly improved with his next shot, which flew over the green. The result of this mess was a triple-bogey seven, which ended the 24-year-old's hopes of retaining the Wanamaker Trophy. McIlroy did rally during a back nine of 34 and finished at three under, inside the top 10.
"I didn't hit many bad shots out there today," McIlroy said.
"I made a big number on 5 but, even then, I didn't really hit a bad shot in. Everything else felt pretty good. "I played my best golf of the week today. I hit some really good drives and hit some really good iron shots. I didn't putt as well as I did over the last three days but I am really, really happy with my game going into the next few weeks."
Westwood's front nine of 41 ended his hopes of a maiden major win. An event which had been laced with promise for the Englishman culminated with a 76 and a distant, three-over aggregate. Westwood, again, will regret errors on the biggest stage from positions in which he had genuine opportunities to win.
Dufner used to be that man. Now, he has secured a place in his sport's history; the manner in which that was achieved looked as nerveless as it was low-key.
For those matters alone Dufner is a worthy champion.
courtesy: guardian
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