Dufner Wins Zurich Classic Playoff With Els for 1st PGA Victory
Jason Dufner won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in a playoff with Ernie Els for his long-awaited first title on golf’s U.S. PGA Tour.
Dufner, 35, a three-time runner-up on the tour who was playing in his 164th PGA event, had a 2-under-par 70 in yesterday’s final round at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale to finish tied with Els at 19 under par.
After both players parred the first playoff hole, Dufner, an American, birdied the second sudden-death hole while Els had a par.
“It was tough trying to get this first win, it was tough for about six years now,” Dufner, who is getting married in five days, said in a televised interview. “It’s a monkey off my back.”
Els, 42, a three-time major champion from South Africa, was trying to end a two-year winless run on the PGA Tour.
The tour now moves to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Wells Fargo Championship, the last event on the schedule before the Players Championship.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell are among those playing from May 3- 6 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dex McLuskey in Dallas at dmcluskey@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net.
Dufner Wins Zurich Classic Playoff With Els
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Jason Dufner, seen here, had a 2-under-par 70 in yesterday’s final round at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale to finish tied with Els at 19 under par.
Jason Dufner, seen here, had a 2-under-par 70 in yesterday’s final round at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale to finish tied with Els at 19 under par. Photographer: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
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