Dufner back in the swing of things after PGA triumph

 

Larry Fine August 21, 2013

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Jason Dufner of the U.S. reacts as he wins the 2013PGA Championship golf tournament on the 18th green …

By Larry Fine

 JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) - Happily, life soon returned to the mundane for Jason Dufner following his PGA Championship triumph 10 days ago at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

 "As far as me personally, nothing's changed," Dufner told reporters at Liberty National on the eve of Thursday's first round of The Barclays, the opening event of the FedExCup playoffs.

"I still took the trash out on Tuesday morning and we actually got a new puppy, so I was up at three in the morning every night taking him out to the bathroom, and still going to my favorite breakfast spot in town," dead-pan Dufner said.

"So not too much has changed in my life. My wife hasn't treated me any differently and people around me are still treating me the same."

 And that is just the way the impassive Dufner, 36, likes it, even after stepping into the spotlight with his first major championship triumph and third career PGA Tour title.

 There was a whirl of media attention that brought him to New York City right after the PGA for a flurry of TV appearances, but now the glamorous metropolis serves as backdrop for the high-powered golf to come this week.

 With the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline looming over a course built over landfill on the edge of New York harbor, Dufner joins world number one Tiger Woods, British Open winner Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open winner Justin Rose and Masters champion Adam Scott among favorites in the elite 125-man field.

Unsurprisingly, Dufner aims to stay on an even keel.

"I don't put too much pressure on myself," he said. "Just try to do the same thing as I've been doing the last couple years.

 "We've got a great set of events coming up. You can really kind of make a year out of it. I know that winning a major can make your year, but I'm focused on trying to get back to Atlanta (Tour Championship)."

The Tour Championship is the climax of the four-event playoffs with a field whittled down to the top 30 players on the points list with the overall series winner banking a $10 million bonus.

Dufner admitted that success had whetted his appetite.

"I think winning one made me a little hungrier to be competitive and win more events, more majors, be part of the Ryder Cup team, part of the Presidents Cup team," he said.

"I'm pretty good at thinking ahead and moving forward. Maybe in this case, it's kind of a weakness because I haven't maybe enjoyed what I did a couple weeks ago as much as maybe some other people would."

 Dufner said he was hoping for continued success, but understood the reality of life on the PGA Tour - at least for players other than Tiger Woods, who is gunning for his 80th career PGA Tour title.

"I think he spoils the media, the fans, with how well he plays, because then people think that other players should play at that level," Dufner joked with his stone-faced delivery.

"You know, 79 wins is pretty remarkable. I've got three. If you look at the history of golf, if you win two percent of the time, you're pretty much a Hall of Famer.

"Pretty much the average guy is about one percent of the events he plays, he wins. I think Tiger is probably around 23, 24 percent.

Woods is actually winning at a rate just under 26 percent with his 79 wins coming from 305 events, including five victories this season.

"So he's way above the norm, and we don't worry about him too much, unless you've got to face him on a Sunday," said Dufner.

 (Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Simon Evans)

A new video for 'bubble boy' Ben Crane

DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer) August 21, 2013AP - Sports

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Ben Crane was lucky to get into the FedEx Cup playoffs as the No. 125 seed. He missed the cut last week at the Wyndham Championship, and this was the first year that no one moved into the top 125 in the final event before the playoffs.

He likely needs to finish at least in the top 40 at The Barclays to advance to the second round.

Instead of stressing out, Crane made another video set to a rap song

''It's called, ''Bubble Boy.''

Crane excitedly played the song to a reporter when he walked off the first tee during a practice round, and then took a few videos on the course and it was on YouTube by Wednesday. It probably won't get as many views as his Golf Boys' hit, ''Oh, Oh, Oh'' with Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan.

But it's vintage Crane.

''Being down here at 125, wipe my tears, the dream's still alive,'' are the lyrics. ''Jersey shore, baby here we come, remember '09 and Heath Slocum.''

Slocum didn't make a rap video.

All he did was make a 20-foot par putt on the final hole at Liberty National in 2009 to win by one shot overTiger Woods, Padraig Harrington, Steve Stricker and Ernie Els. That guaranteed him a spot in the Tour Championship and the four majors the next year.

Whether that happens with Crane is unlikely, through crazier things have happened.

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DUFNER RETURNS: Jason Dufner wasn't swamped with phone calls and text messages after winning his first major at the PGA Championship. But there's a reason for that. He changed the number on his cellphone about three weeks ago.

''Very limited people have access to my phone number,'' he said.

A couple of them are fellow Auburn athletes with a higher profile - Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley. Dufner otherwise was home in Alabama, living up to his pledge that winning the PGA Championship was not about to change his life. It didn't change his pulse, either. He was as flat-line as ever, and proud of it.

''I was excited. I was satisfied and gratified, because I knew how much sacrifice I made and what it took to win the major,'' he said. ''But I don't show it out emotionally outward too well, but that's just kind of who I am and how it's been. I don't want to try and change things. It's not like I have to put my game face on or have to hold back emotions out there on purpose. That's just kind of naturally who I am, so I think it's been working pretty good for me.''

Dufner was in New York on Tuesday after winning the PGA Championship for a media tour that included an appearance with Howard Stern.

Otherwise, it's as if nothing changed.

''I still took the trash out on Tuesday morning and we actually got a new puppy, so I was up at 3 in the morning every night taking him out to the bathroom and still going to my favorite breakfast spot in town,'' he said. ''So not too much has changed in my life. My wife hasn't treated me any differently and people around me are still treating me the same. So it's pretty easy when you've got good people around you.''

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HAAS PERSPECTIVE: Bill Haas starts the FedEx Cup playoffs with the No. 5 seed, which has more to do with his tour-leading nine top 10s than his win at the AT&T National. With five career wins, he was told he was only four wins away from being among the top 10 in PGA Tour wins among active players.

Haas said he was a little surprised by that, but he took issue the word ''only four wins away.''

Getting to five wins was no picnic.

''It's so hard to win out here,'' he said.

That has made him appreciate even more the careers of Tiger Woods (79 career wins), Phil Mickelson (42), Vijay Singh (34), Davis Love III (20) and Ernie Els (19).

''Those guys are on another level because of how many times they have won,'' he said. ''It's pretty amazing, the level of competition nowadays. But ... you've got to think of about those to be positive. When things aren't going well, you have to say, 'Hey, wait a second, you can win out here.' Stats like that are fun to look at and only positive motivation for the future.''

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SECOND PLACE: This is one time Tiger Woods doesn't think second place is all that bad.

Woods has 14 majors, putting him in second-place behind Jack Nicklaus (18). He has 79 wins on the PGA Tour, second only to Sam Snead at 82.

''That's not bad at my age,'' the 37-year-old Woods said Wednesday. ''Both of those guys took a lot longer to get to that point, and to do it where I'm at right now, it's pretty good.''

Nicklaus won his 15th major when he was 38. Snead won his 80th tour event when he was 47.

Kiwi teen Ko defends Canadian Women's Open title

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Lydia Ko of New Zealand watches a tee shot at Sebonack Golf Club on June 29, 2013 in Southampton, New York. Ko, a 16-year-old New Zealand amateur, defends her title at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open starting Thursday at Edmonton's Royal Mayfair after a historic triumph a year ago. (AFP Photo/Gregory Shamus)

 

August 21, 2013

Lydia Ko, a 16-year-old New Zealand amateur, defends her title at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open starting Thursday at Edmonton's Royal Mayfair after a historic triumph a year ago.

Ko became the youngest winner in LPGA history last year at 15 years and four months of age when she captured the crown in Vancouver. This season, Ko has played in nine prior LPGA events, including four majors.

"It was a huge surprise, but now when I look back at it, it was a really big week in my life," Ko said.

"I have really been enjoying the last year. I have been getting a whole new experience. I've been getting a feel for all these different types of golf courses in different countries and situations. It doesn't feel like I've played 10 already, but it has been really cool to have that opportunity to play this many."

All but one of the players in last week's Solheim Cup will be playing this week, with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall entered after becoming the first player to go 5-0 in a Solheim Cup in helping Europe defeat the US women 18-10, including sinking the Cup-clinching putt.

England's Charley Hull, a 17-year-old who went 2-1 for Europe, has four runner-up showings in nine Ladies European Tour starts and will play on a sponsor exemption, giving Ko a run for the money as top teen.

"She obviously proved herself out there last week and she's a really great player," Ko said. "It kind of makes me feel better seeing that I'm not the (only) young one, so that feels good."

Missing out on the money she could earn as a tour player does not weigh on Ko's mind.

"I don't really think about money. It's not like I count how much I'm (potentially) earning each week," Ko said. "I just hit the ball. My parents are the ones that are thinking about money and expenses."

Ko is still pondering college options and when to turn professional, but nothing has been decided on either matter.

She took a putting lesson on Sunday from world number one Park In-Bee of South Korea.

"I was putting and then she came along and did some putting as well," Ko said. "I didn't ask her any questions, but I stopped and then looked at how the world number one putts."

This year, she has putted very well. Park seeks her seventh title of the year this week, having won three major titles and leading the LPGA money list with $2,147,619.

Park returns after some time off in South Korea, including time spent with a seriously ill child whose dream was to play golf alongside Park.

"One of the kids' wishes was playing golf with me, so I did their wish and spent some time with them," Park said.

"When I was in Korea I obviously met up with my family and friends. I did some stuff for sponsors. Everything kept me really busy. I really enjoyed my time there. I feel like I'm more refreshed, feel like I'm ready to go again."

Park finished second to Ko last year, even though she collected a winner's check because Ko was an amateur.

"I could give her advice, but I don't think she really needs advice. She's a very talented player," Park said.

"It would be nice if I could actually get the trophy and the first-place check this time. I'll try my best this week and just see what happens."

Park said she feels more relaxed after her Asian trip and after her quest for a major sweep was scuttled when she failed at the Women's British Open.

"I'm a lot more relaxed now," Park said. "I experienced some big pressure in British Open. That week was big, and it could have been great if I could have played a little bit better, but some weeks you don't play your best. But I had a great experience there so I think that experience will help me throughout this season and my career."

Wales Open heralds start of European Ryder Cup race

(Reuters) - The year-long quest to win a place in Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup team starts at this week's Wales Open and captain Paul McGinley cannot wait for the qualifying process to begin.

"This is another significant milestone in my captaincy and it is going to be an exciting campaign to see who can make the team for Gleneagles next year," McGinley told the tour website (www.europeantour.com) on Monday.

"There are so many talented players who have the potential to make the team and it will be very interesting for me to watch it evolve."

 Irishman McGinley, who was appointed skipper in January, will compete this week as he keeps an eye on the early contenders for a place in his team for the biennial clash against the United States in Scotland.

 Italy's Francesco Molinari is the only member of the triumphant side that won so dramatically in Illinois last September who will tee up at Celtic Manor in Thursday's opening round.

 Celtic Manor was also the venue for Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the U.S. in 2010.

 Among the other title hopefuls competing at the Wales Open are former British Open champion Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Alvaro Quiros, Ross Fisher, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Thomas Bjorn.

 Britain's Tommy Fleetwood, 22, who captured his first victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Sunday, will also bid to make it back-to-back tour wins.

(Writing by Tony Jimenez; editing by Toby Davis)

Ko vaults to No. 7 in world rankings

Lydia Ko still can't cash an LPGA paycheck, but there's no doubt the Australian amateur is entrenched as one of the world top golfers.

The 16-year-old officially moved to No. 7 in the Rolex World Rankings on Monday, up 12 spots one day after defending her title at the CN Canadian Open.

The top six golfers in the rankings were unchanged, with Korea's Inbee Park maintaining a healthy lead at the top over American Stacy Lewis, who withdrew after the first round in Canada.

 Yani Tseng, the No. 1-ranked player entering the year, fell another spot to No. 15. 

France's Karine Icher moved into the Top 20 on the strength of her second-place finish in Canada.

Make No Mistake: Tiger Woods Is Still the Player of the Year

COMMENTARY | By winning The Barclays this weekend, some golf fans are suggesting that Adam Scott should be named the PGA Tour Player of the Year when all is said and done. Those people would be wrong. 

With five tournament victories -- including the WGC-Cadillac Championship, WGC-Bridgestone and The Players Championship -- Tiger Woods is still the heavy favorite to win POY honors, and rightfully so. The fact that this is even in question is ridiculous to me.

But is there a case to be made for Scott?

According to Yahoo! Sports' Brian Murphy, apparently so. As Murphy suggests, could it be possible that Scott's Masters green jacket and winning the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs be weighted higher than the total of all Woods' victories in 2013? He seems to think quality of wins (Scott) is more impressive than quantity (Woods).

I could not disagree more.

Earlier last week, Scott suggested that, while Woods recently called his five-win year "great" prior to The Barclays, Tiger would much rather have the type of year the Aussie was enjoying. He was correct in that assessment; Tiger has always preferred major championships over "regular" tour wins. Then again, that's like saying LeBron James "prefers" NBA rings over division titles. No duh. 

But we are talking about five wins here, people. The last time I checked, five is still more than two, major championship included or not.

Strength of tournament field in each golfer's respective wins is also a wash when compared side-by-side. Three of Tiger's wins -- the two WGC events and his triumph at Sawgrass -- featured a tournament field that would be similar to that of any major championship. His other two wins -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Farmers Insurance Open- - included many of the world's top-ranked players (eventual US Open winner Justin Rose finished runner-up to Woods at Bay Hill). That's nothing to shake a stick at, folks.

 Yes, Adam Scott can hang his Player of the Year nomination on winning what many believe to be the crown jewel of majors (sorry, but it's true, everyone loves Augusta no matter how much history the US Open or British Open boast). His win at the talent-heavy Barclays added to his case. That doesn't mean Scott is automatically the frontrunner for the award. Everything Tiger has done this year still happened.

By the way, Tiger finished second to Scott at The Barclays. Let's not forget that.

The question no longer hinges on some arbitrary comparison of quality over quantity. If you take away Tiger's wins at Bay Hill and the Farmers, he still has more wins than Scott. Winning The Masters is a monumental deal. However, just because you won the Super Bowl doesn't make you the MVP of the league.

Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can also be found on the Back9Network. Follow Adam on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

Riegger leads after second round of Boeing Classic

CBSSports.com wire reports

Aug. 24, 2013 8:51 PM ET

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SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- John Riegger shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday to open a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Champions Tour's Boeing Classic.

The 50-year-old Riegger, making his fifth career start on the 50-and-over tour, had an eagle for the second straight day and added seven birdies and a bogey to finish at 11 under at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge.

Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer, Kirk Triplett and Bobby Clampett were tied for second. Lehman had a 67, Langer and Triplett shot 68, and Clampett had a 69.

Riegger pitched in for the eagle on the 590-yard, par-5 15th hole.

"It wasn't anything fancy" Riegger said. "It was just a straight-forward pitch. It landed just on the green and rolled in just like putt."

He said he no idea at the time that shot pushed him into the lead

"I don't look at it [scoreboard]," Riegger said. "If I just go out there and play the way I'm capable of playing, things will take care of themselves. It's not going to do any good to worry about what someone else is doing."

Riegger won twice on the Web.com Tour, the last in 2010.

"That tour helped me prepare for out here than the regular tour just because you have to go low and keeping going low because there's so many good players," Riegger said. "As for my fifth event, these guys have been beating up on me for 30 years. We still have one more day to go and there's a lot of great players out here. There's some guys out here capable of shooting 63 or 64 on this golf course."

Langer, the 2010 winner, chipped in for eagle in the 529-yard, par-5 eighth.

"Those were three beautiful shots for the eagle," Langer said. "Then I hit it into the water next hole [for bogey]. ... It's not over. Three shots sounds like a great deal. On this golf course, it can be gone in a hole or two. There is a lot of golf to be played yet. I think whoever is within five shots has a chance. I've won tournaments when I was seven shots back."

Lehman birdied his final three holes.

Hometown favorite Fred Couples was 5 under after a 70.

First-round leader Bart Bryant, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open winner last week in Endicott, N.Y., followed his opening 66 with a 75 to drop into a tie for 20th at 3 under.

Scott Hoch withdrew because of an ankle injury.