Dufner’s mind on winning next major

USPGA victory has left the American hungry for more major success.

Many pundits are tipping USPGA champion Jason Dufner to win another Major this year. And the player himself admits it’s something that is on his mind every day.

“A lot of people have asked me if I’ve reflected a little bit on my PGA win, but I’m not sure what that means,” he said. “Professional golfers try to stay in the moment as often as possible.

“So I’m always thinking of tournaments I can win as well as seeing myself winning Majors. That’s not to say I expect it but I see myself doing it.

“Obviously I’m proud of winning the USPGA and proud of how hard I worked to get there. Now I’m just trying to use it as a motivation to win some more events,” he added.

Dufner relished the opportunity to chill out last month by partnering Dustin Johnson in the Frankin Templeton Shoot Out, hosted by Greg Norman at Naples, Florida.

It was won by the pairing of Harris English and Matt Kuchar, but Dufner says the event was the perfect warm-up for a new year of golf.

“I used the Shark Shoot Out to get the rust out of my system as I hadn’t played since China four or five weeks before,” he explained.

“The format is a lot of fun over three rounds with modified alternate shots (greensomes), best ball and scrambles. They’re formats we don’t usually get to play, and team events are always fun.”

Dufner enjoyed the tournament so much he says he wishes the US Tour would bring back a regular foursomes tournament. A similar event was held for many years before and after the Second World War. It eventually blossomed into the PGA National Team Championship in the 1960s and 70s, with a certain pairing of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus winning it three times.

“A lot of the guys on the Tour talk about wanting to play events like that,” Dufner revealed. “You could even use it as a pointer for Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup matches.

“We already play a lot of challenge matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of tournament weeks anyway. I think Dustin Johnson and I are undefeated! Keegan Bradley is the ultimate Tuesday loser, so we beat up on him pretty good. We joke Keegan can hardly pull the club back, and does his own little Texas two-step as he sets up for each shot.”

That’s not a trait you’d associate with Dufner, whose deadpan face and Ben Hogan-style routine gives nothing away.

But the 37-year-old insists for a brief time his thoughts have been elsewhere in recent weeks.

“I had a bit of time to kind of get away from golf,” he said, “spend time at home, and think about other things in my life, so it’s been good.”