Jason Dufner almost made major championship history as he ensured himself of a two shot lead entering the third round of the 95th PGA Championship.
Dufner, who lost to Keegan Bradley in playoff at the PGA two years ago, became the 24th player to shoot a round of 63 in one of golf’s major championships. After playing sublimely, taking advantage of the soft conditions at Oak Hill, the 36-year-old found himself with a putt on the 18th to make history.
After producing the most stunning approach, Dufner was left with a 12-foot uphill putt to etch himself into the annals of golf history. Unfortunately, his effort came up short and he had to settle for the 26th round of 63 in major history, whilst at the same time breaking the course record at the venerable old course in Rochester.
With rain overnight and in the morning turning the greens and fairways into dartboards, Oak Hill was comparatively defenceless as the world’s leading players produced a thrilling series of low scores and birdies. Justin Rose played his back nine in 29, while 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson also threatened shooting a 62, before settling for a 64 that at the time equalled the course record that was originally set by Ben Hogan in 1942.
After holing out from the fairway on the second hole for eagle, Dufner would make five further birdies on the 4th, 5th, 11th, 13th and 16th to put himself on the brink of history. Afterwards, he reflected on the experience of producing such a round in a major and his position in the Championship as he seeks a first major victory:
“I obviously had a fantastic day today in a major championship, chased a little bit of history. I came up a little short on that last putt, but all in all I'm excited. The position I'm in, the golf course has obviously yielded some low scores, and I'm looking forward to continuing good play here on the weekend.”
Naturally, he was asked to describe the added pressure when faced with the opportunity of such a monumental achievement:
“It's tough when you're chasing history. You will be the first one to do something. I don't think I've been the first to do anything in my life. So it was a little nerve-racking for a Friday. It's usually the pressure you might fell towards the end of the tournament. But I got through it.”
He most certainly got through it, and he will have to face equivalent pressure if he is to add his name onto the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.
Continuing the trend set by the previous three majors this year, this 95th PGA Championship is blessed with a stellar leaderboard inundated with intriguing stories. Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar and Jim Furyk are two shots back of Dufner going into Saturday at Oak Hill.
Dufner will face significant challenges from many of the game’s great names, not least two men who have already claimed major glory in 2013.
In the third round, expectations will be on the Masters champion Scott, and the U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, as they look to continue the major winning habit this weekend. Playing alongside each other with Phil Mickelson in the showpiece grouping of the opening two rounds impressively played themselves right into contention.
Scott, who, in April, became the first Australian to win the Masters, looked imperious as he followed up his Thursday round of 65 with a 68 to find himself two back of the lead. For a long time one of the game’s most impressive talents, the 32-year-old now has that major pedigree behind him that will make him possibly the man to beat as he pairs alongside Jason Dufner in Saturday’s final group.
The likeable Aussie is cool, calm and confident as he looks to become the first player to win the Masters and PGA in the same year since Jack Nicklaus in 1975. Scott stated; “I think the platform has never been better for me to win multiple majors.”
After falling back to even par for the Championship after nine holes, Justin Rose was largely considered out of the running before unleashing a devastating run on Oak Hill’s front-nine. With birdies at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th, Rose finds himself just three back of the lead at 6-under after completing his second-nine in 29 shots.
“It is wonderful to be in this situation right now," said Rose who won the U.S. Open at Merion in June. "Talking about having done it, talking about feeling you can win more, believing in yourself and not talking like, 'I hope it can happen this week.' So I think that alone makes it easier. I also feel like my game is suited to tougher golf courses.”
Those two major champions are the headliners of this stunning leaderboard, with world number six Matt Kuchar just two shots back of the lead, alongside Scott and 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk. In-form Henrik Stenson, who is coming off runner-up finishes at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and Open Championship, is at 6-under and will play with Justin Rose on Saturday.
The popular 37-year-old Swede, who has risen from 230th to 11th in the world rankings within the past 18 months, is more than hopeful that he will continue his stunning form this weekend. “I'm just trying to stick to my game plan,” Stenson said after completing a second round of 66. “Obviously, I'm executing that pretty well and keeping it under control. So I'm just going to keep on doing that for two days. There’s still a long ways to go. I'm just pleased to be up in another big event and be in a good position heading into the weekend.”
Robert Garrigus, 46-year-old Steve Stricker are at 5-under, with Webb Simpson, winner three years ago Martin Kaymer, Charley Hoffman and Marcus Fraser at 4-under. In total, 27 players are under-par and all within eight shots of the lead with 36-holes remaining.
Surprisingly, Tiger Woods is not among that group, as rounds of 71-70 have him at 1-over and ten shots back of the lead at the halfway stage. There will be significant frustration for Woods, who won by seven last week at Firestone, as he finds himself in a position where potential victory is unlikely at best.
Woods, whose largest comeback to win in a major a this stage was six shots at the 2005 Masters, is hoping for a low round tomorrow to give himself a chance on Sunday. “I have got to do my job and go out there and post something in the mid to low 60s, like some of the guys did today. This golf course is pretty soft. It's definitely gettable. Got to hit the ball in play and keep the ball near the hole so I can be aggressive with my putts.”
The course was far more gettable than anticipated, with rain softening the course and making the greens highly receptive to approach shots. Birdies were the popular order of the day, but that may become more difficult over the weekend with warm and dry conditions promised that will firm up the course.
68 scores in the 60s have been posted to far this week, which is double that of the four-round total from the 2003 PGA at Oak Hill. With the potential for low-scoring, and a compact leaderboard littered with leading names, the weekend of the 95th PGA Championship may prove to be the most memorable yet.
But at this stage, it is Jason Dufner who has set the standard. He jostled with history on Friday in Rochester. On Sunday, he will be hoping to join the history of the Wanamaker Trophy and the PGA Championship.