By: Global Golf Post

Jason Dufner has never been one to show much emotion regardless of how things are going and that probably came in handy at Muirfield Village where he opened with matching 65’s, tried to play himself out of the tournament with a Saturday-afternoon 77 and then endured two weather delays before finally shaking Jack Nicklaus’ hand as the tournament winner just before darkness Sunday.

As difficult as things got for Dufner on Saturday (Nick Faldo was the last player to win a PGA Tour event – the 1989 Masters – after shooting 77 on Saturday), he made a point after the third round of saying he could still win the tournament and he proved it on Sunday.

“I was pretty disappointed, especially how well I played the first two days,” Dufner said. “I had to get over the first two days, I had to get over it quick. It’s a 72-hole tournament. A lot of things can happen out there. I just needed to get myself together.”

While everyone else seemed to hit roadblocks – Rickie Fowler bogeyed the short 14th with a wedge in his hand, third-round leader Daniel Summerhays had no momentum and Justin Thomas couldn’t hole the putts that mattered – Dufner stoically went about his business.

After waiting out a 1-hour, 17-minute rain delay, Dufner birdied the par-5 15th hole then staked himself to a two-stroke lead when he made a beautiful birdie at the par-4 17th, holing a 3-foot putt set up by a 357-yard drive.

Acknowledging he often had fought his putting, particularly from short range, Dufner recently began using a breathing technique similar to what military snipers use. Dufner read a book on the subject and implemented a putting routine in which he consciously begins his stroke after exhaling.

It worked.
And when Dufner holed a tournament-clinching 32-footer for par on the 18th hole after another weather delay, the fist pump and the big smile said it all.

Driver: Titleist 917D2 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Yellow 6.5-Flex (63 grams)

3 Wood: Callaway X2 Hot (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 75TX

7 Wood: Titleist 915F (21 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver Limited Edition 80TX

Irons: Titleist 716 AP2 (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue AMT S400

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM6 (52-12 F Grind, 56-14 F Grind), Titleist Vokey Prototype 2017 (60 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper DG Spinner

Putter: Scotty Cameron Futura 5S
Grip: SuperStroke Ultra Slim 1.0

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Republished with permission by: Global Golf Post