J-DUFF BREAKS THROUGH IN THE BIG EASY….

by Mike Livingston; Co-Host, The CaddyShack Radio Show
Several times a bridesmaid, never a bride….that had been the story thus far in the brief (but lucrative) career of Jason Dufner. The Cleveland native and Auburn alum, perhaps best known for his playoff loss in last year’s PGA Championship to Keegan Bradley, has risen steadily in Golf’s World rankings, currently sitting at thirtieth but sure to jump after capturing his first tour win at last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It was only a few weeks ago when it seemed it was but a matter of minutes before Dufner would finally taste victory but that too slipped away. Well good things come to those who wait…..is that what I’ve heard?
The Big Easy and the TPC of New Orleans is a favorite stop on tour amongst the pros and the leaderboard on Sunday showed it with many of the game’s top names lurking near the top from time to time. Masters winner Bubba Watson was the defending champ and had an up-and-down Sunday to finish in the top 20. Charles Howell III had an ace. Luke Donald, Steve Stricker, PGA Tour Player of the Month for March Justin Rose and Ricky Fowler, also looking for his first win, were all in contention throughout the final round.
However, down the stretch it became a two-horse race between Dufner and Hall of Famer Ernie Els who hasn’t seen the winner’s circle in a while, either and all of the sudden, became a bit of a sentimental favorite. They played the eighteenth hole three times before Dufner finally rolled in a birdie to seal the deal and “take the monkey off his back” as he put it.
On the LPGA Tour, the ladies turned one of their favorite tour stops, the 2012 Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, into a good ol’ Sunday shoot-out. Former Kraft Nabisco Champ Stacy Lewis shot a -3 round of 69 which was just enough to edge high school phenom, 17 year-old Lexi Thompson who stopped her tweeting search to find a prom date long enough to go out and light-up The Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove to the tune of a final round 65. Unfortunately that was still one short and Lewis, who picked-up her first win of the season, made sure her Mom did not jump into the pond this time!
The weather in the desert is beautiful and golf on all tours is now officially “in full swing”….so tune-in to The CaddyShack every Saturday morning to talk golf with Roger and I and keep yourself in the “loop” with whats happening locally and on all of the different tours………Listen in, will you?..……Fore!
Mike Livingston is the Co-Host of The Caddy Shack Radio Show on KNEWS 94.3 FM on Saturday Mornings from 6:00-8:00 a.m.; Additionally, Mike is the Director of Management for Personalized Property Management Company, in Cathedral City.