Jason's Tour Diary
Join us in following professional golfer Jason Dufner as he writes about his experiences throughout the 2012 PGA TOUR.
March 22, 2012
Hi again, everyone. It’s been a fun past few weeks playing in the WGC-Accenture Match Play, WGC-Cadillac Championship, and the Transitions Championship.
I was excited to play in the Match Play for the first time in my professional career. Unfortunately, it was not a very long stay in northern Tucson as I was bounced in the first round by Peter Hanson, 2 and 1. Peter advanced to the quarter-finals and has had a pretty strong year this year. For those of you who don’t know Peter, he is Swedish, but is "country-strong.” He drove the ball long and straight and put a lot of pressure on me to execute with my longer irons, which I did decently well…but not well enough to win.
At the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Doral, outside of Miami, I put together one of the best rounds I’ve played on TOUR as I carded a bogey-free 6 under 66 in the first round to lead the event in what were very windy conditions. I was in complete control of my game and picked my spots very well. But I was unable to capitalize on any of the momentum in the last three rounds, which was very disappointing. I shook it off the next day as Amanda and I relaxed in South Beach for a day before flying up to Tampa for the Transitions Championship.
The more I put myself in position to win golf events, the more likely it is to happen. That’s how I look at the Transitions Championship. My ball striking was as good as anyone’s in the field but my putter was balky on Saturday and Sunday. The name of the game when it comes to winning a PGA TOUR event is putting. It’s difficult on the course not to get frustrated when I miss putts after hitting so many approaches so well, but I always have to maintain a calm disposition and move on even when things don’t go as planned.
As I’ve said before, you move on and you have to do so quickly. I have another opportunity this week at Mr. Palmer’s event at Bay Hill. I’ve had some pretty good rounds there, and hopefully I can continue my good play.
Last night was a good release for me as Amanda and I took in the Bulls vs. Magic game in Orlando. Those Bulls are good! Hope everyone enjoys the rest of March Madness just as I do!
Talk to everyone soon again.
-Duf
February 15, 2012
Hi everyone. Since I wrote last, I played the Waste Management Phoenix Open. It was a tournament that I had not played much in the past because I thought my game did not fit the golf course. When I decided to add it to my schedule in 2011, it turned out to be a good decision; I made a run in my final round only to lose on the second hole in a playoff.
This year I played well, finishing in tied for 8th. I was in good position as I made the turn in the final round but simply did not execute when I needed to down the stretch. I might have had a shot to win had I hit better shots into 15 and 16. My putter was balky all tournament long. I putted well for the first 16 holes of the tournament, and after the first round held the lead, but then battled the rest of the way.
Playing the 16th at the TPC Scottsdale is a lot of fun. The fans are a raucous and pretty happy bunch and come up with some great one-liners. I don’t interact too much with the crowd, but some players give it right back to them. Forty thousand fans on one hole is great for us and great for the game of golf.
This week I am gearing up for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. This is a great course, and we stay in Santa Monica which is a pretty cool scene. While I get up and ready to contend every week I tee it up, this week and next are a bit bigger as the field is stacked here at "the Riv” going into WGC – Accenture Match-Play. I have never played in the Match-Play event before, so I am really looking forward to it – should be a lot of fun.
Here is a picture too from my trip to the Grand Canyon with Amanda. We stopped there and then relaxed - yes relaxed - in Vegas before coming to Santa Monica. 
-Duf
January 24, 2012
Hi everyone. Here is the first entry from the PGA TOUR. I hope you enjoy following!
Although I missed the cut at the Sony Open in my first event, a trip to Hawai'i is always fun. I was able to knock the rust off after taking a break following the finish to last season.
I had a nice week at the Humana Challenge, not the best first 10 holes but had a solid next 62. The -9 round Friday was one of my best on the PGA TOUR. An early double bogey on Sunday prevented any real chance of making a run to win the tournament.
Right now, I'm working very hard to aim properly when putting. It sounds relatively simple but always needs fine tuning. I think that will be key for me in breaking some bad habits on the greens.
My full swing is very good right now -- very happy with my ball control and ability to hit shots I need to, when I need to. I need to exercise some more patience on the course -- when to be more conservative or aggressive in certain situations.
I am heading home now for a week of rest and will be doing some work to get ready for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Talk to everyone soon again.
- Jason