|
Jason Dufner turns 35 on Saturday and feels it's high time he went from journeyman to really challenging the modern game's elite at the April 5-8 Masters. And the signs are there.
An opening 66 at Bay Hill on Thursday gave Dufner a share of the Arnold Palmer Invitational lead with South Korean Charlie Wi -- the third time in as many tournament's that he has had at least a share of top spot.
After last season's PGA Championship, where he finished runner-up after losing a playoff to fellow-American Keegan Bradley, it is by no means impossible that Dufner could be considered a contender at Augusta.
"Definitely. I think my game is a pretty good set up for that golf course," Dufner told reporters. "This is probably the first time in my career I can actually think about winning those types of tournaments."
Dufner, who spent over five years on the second-tier Nationwide Tour, has yet to win on the PGA Tour however, despite threatening to do so on this Florida swing.
"I am looking to close a little better on the weekend and try to close one of these tournaments out and get a win," he said. "That would really boost my confidence heading to the Masters. I love Augusta. I love everything about the Masters and that tournament.
"I'm starting to think about the shots I might need for that golf course practice-wise and I am going to head up there pretty early next week and prepare - which is something different for me."
"I kind of proved to myself that I can compete out here. Maybe not every week but on some weeks, I can really get after it and play well," said Dufner.
"It gave me a lot of confidence to shoot low scores and be comfortable competing against some of the best players in the world." |