‘Hole of the people" tough challenge for players

 

PGA.COM August 11, 2013

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Receiving more than 92,000 votes, “Location C” - closest to the water - provided a real risk/reward …

Explore all our PGA Championship video | Read more about the "Pick the Hole Location' contest

By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The downhill, 181-yard, par-3 15th hole at Oak Hill Country Club served as the hole of the people during the final round of the 95th PGA Championship.

The recently redesigned hole requires a mid-iron to a narrow green. A picturesque pond along the right side of the putting surface is the big concern for players, especially when the prevailing wind is blowing toward the hazard. A steep drop-off also lurks on the backside of the green and three bunkers accentuate the left side.

For the first time in major championship golf history, The PGA of America allowed fans to cast votes on PGA.com, Facebook and Twitter over a 19-day period in the "PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge Hosted by Jack Nicklaus" to decide which of four locations would be used in Sunday's final round.

Receiving more than 92,000 votes, "Location C" - closest to the water - was the winner.

The hole location was placed 25 yards from the front of the green and just 4 yards from both the right side of the green and the pond that borders the right edge of the green. The selection by the fans meant that the water hazard would come into play, setting up a dramatic, risk-reward decision for the world's best players on the final par 3 of the 95th PGA Championship.

So how did it stack up?

On Sunday, it played to a scoring average of 3.2192, which was second-easiest all week.

Here's a look at the round-by-round scoring average on No. 15:

First Round: 3.2949 Second Round: 3.2143 Third Round: 3.2800 Final Round: 3.2192

All in all, the players weren't surprised that the fans voted for the location closest to trouble.

"It was pretty close to where we thought it would be," said Tiger Woods. "We thought it might be maybe another step or two deeper in the green. But it's a really tough pin because if you hit it at the flag high left, it's going to roll off at the green, right where we all walk off. It's a nasty little chip, because you've got to get it up over that hill and then it runs away from you. You can easily chip in the water or flub it. If you play short, you know, short of the flag and 20 feet, it's not so bad. But if you try and get it back there, it's a really tough pin."

Dufner conquers Oak Hill for first major title

 

Mark Lamport-Stokes August 11, 2013

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Jason Dufner of the U.S. poses with the Wanamaker trophy after winning the 2013 PGA Championship golf …

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

 ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - American Jason Dufner erased memories of his stunning late collapse two years ago when he clinched his first major title by two shots in the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on Sunday.

 One stroke behind playing partner Jim Furyk overnight, the ultra-laidback Dufner produced some scintillating approach play on the way to a two-under-par 68 and a 10-under total of 268 on the challenging East Course.

The 36-year-old Dufner seized control with three birdies on the front nine and shut the door on his rivals with a steely display of safety-first golf over the difficult closing stretch.

A stunning approach to a foot at the par-four 16th earned him his fourth birdie of the day and he could afford the luxury of bogeys at 17 and 18, two of the toughest holes on the course, as he secured his third victory on the PGA Tour.

After putting out on the 18th green, Dufner retrieved his ball from the hole before lifting both arms waist-high in celebration with his eyes closed.

 He was warmly embraced by his wife Amanda just off the green, followed by his good friend Keegan Bradley, the 2011 champion.

Dufner had lost out in a playoff to Bradley for that title at Atlanta Athletic Club where he had led by five strokes in regulation while playing the fourth-last hole.

"It's been a tough day, a long day," Dufner said after being presented with the coveted Wanamaker Trophy which he hoisted high before kissing it.

"It's a tough golf course and it probably hasn't hit me yet. To come back from a couple of years ago in this championship when I lost to Keegan in the playoff, to win feels really, really good.

"The last two holes were a little unfortunate. I wish I could've closed out with no bogeys but I am happy to get the job done. It's a big step for my career."

 Former U.S. Open champion Furyk, bidding at the age of 43 to win his first major crown in a decade, signed off with a 71 to finish alone in second place after struggling off the tee for much of a sun-splashed afternoon.

FIRST SWEDE

 Henrik Stenson, aiming to become the first Swedish man to land one of golf's elite titles, closed with a 70 and a seven-under tally, one stroke better than compatriot Jonas Blixt (70).

 Tiger Woods, seeking to end a five-year title drought at the majors, ended a forgettable week at Oak Hillwith a 70 to finish halfway down the leaderboard at four-over 284.

 The year's final major shaped up as a two-horse race for much of a warm, sunny afternoon at Oak Hill asDufner and Furyk dueled for the lead.

Dufner drew level at the top when sank a five-foot birdie putt at the par-five fourth, then briefly claimed the outright lead after hitting a brilliant approach that spun back to two feet at the tricky par-four fifth to set up a tap-in birdie.

However, Furyk immediately rejoined Dufner at the top when he drained a slick, 35-footer to birdie the par-three sixth and both players parred the seventh, despite ending up in the left rough.

Dufner then countered with another brilliant approach, this time a sand wedge to a foot at the par-four eighth, to reclaim the outright lead at 11 under.

While Furyk bogeyed the ninth after missing the green to the right with his approach and hitting a poor chip to 15 feet, Dufner sank a clutch eight-footer to salvage par after ending up in rough off the tee and take a two-shot lead into the back nine.

Dufner missed a series of birdie putts from 10-foot range and just beyond early on the back nine as he continued to hit greens in regulation before he and Furyk each birdied the 16th.

As the shadows lengthened on a glorious, sun-splashed evening at Oak Hill, Dufner maintained his two-shot cushion as he and Furyk both finished bogey-bogey.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

Golf-PGA Championship scores

 

August 11, 2013

Aug 11 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the PGA Championship at the par-70 course on Sunday in Rochester, New York

270 Jason Dufner (U.S.) 68 63 71 68

272 Jim Furyk (U.S.) 65 68 68 71

273 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 68 66 69 70

274 Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 68 70 66 70

275 Scott Piercy (U.S.) 67 71 72 65

Adam Scott (Australia) 65 68 72 70

276 David Toms (U.S.) 71 69 69 67

277 Jason Day (Australia) 67 71 72 67

Zach Johnson (U.S.) 69 70 70 68

Dustin Johnson (U.S.) 72 71 65 69

Rory McIlroy (Britain) 69 71 67 70

278 Graeme McDowell (Britain) 70 69 73 66

Boo Weekley (U.S.) 72 69 70 67

Marc Leishman (Australia) 70 70 70 68

Roberto Castro (U.S.) 68 69 71 70

Marc Warren (Britain) 74 67 68 69

Kevin Streelman (U.S.) 70 72 66 70

Steve Stricker (U.S.) 68 67 70 73

279 Keegan Bradley (U.S.) 69 72 72 66

Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 72 68 73 66

Rickie Fowler (U.S.) 70 68 72 69

280 Michael Thompson (U.S.) 72 67 72 69

Matt Kuchar (U.S.) 67 66 76 71

David Lynn (Britain) 69 69 71 71

281 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 68 71 71 71

Robert Garrigus (U.S.) 67 68 74 72

Webb Simpson (U.S.) 72 64 73 72

Bill Haas (U.S.) 68 70 71 72

282 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 68 72 75 67

Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 68 75 69 70

Scott Jamieson (Britain) 69 72 70 71

Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 69 71 70 72

283 Peter Hanson (Sweden) 72 69 74 68

Martin Kaymer (Germany) 68 68 78 69

Paul Casey (Britain) 67 72 74 70

Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe) 71 71 71 70

Justin Rose (Britain) 68 66 77 72

Francesco Molinari (Italy) 72 68 70 73

Lee Westwood (Britain) 66 73 68 76

284 Matt Jones (Australia) 72 71 73 68

Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) 71 70 74 69

J.J. Henry (U.S.) 71 71 73 69

Danny Willett (Britain) 73 70 72 69

D.A. Points (U.S.) 73 70 72 69

Tiger Woods (U.S.) 71 70 73 70

Charley Hoffman (U.S.) 69 67 73 75

285 Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 70 71 75 69

John Merrick (U.S.) 75 68 73 69

Ryan Palmer (U.S.) 73 70 71 71

Josh Teater (U.S.) 71 71 71 72

David Hearn (Canada) 66 76 71 72

K.J. Choi (South Korea) 76 65 71 73

Marcus Fraser (Australia) 67 69 75 74

Luke Guthrie (U.S.) 71 71 69 74

286 Scott Stallings (U.S.) 73 70 73 70

Ryan Moore (U.S.) 69 71 73 73

287 Hunter Mahan (U.S.) 70 68 78 71

Shane Lowry (Ireland) 71 70 75 71

Chris Kirk (U.S.) 71 69 73 74

Ken Duke (U.S.) 75 68 70 74

288 Stephen Gallacher (Britain) 75 68 76 69

Ian Poulter (Britain) 70 71 77 70

Tommy Gainey (U.S.) 69 74 73 72

Harris English (U.S.) 74 69 72 73

Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69 68 75 76

289 Ben Curtis (U.S.) 73 70 74 72

Brandt Snedeker (U.S.) 70 73 70 76

290 Tim Clark (South Africa) 69 71 75 75

Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70 72 73 75

291 John Senden (Australia) 72 70 73 76

Brooks Koepka (U.S.) 71 72 71 77

292 Phil Mickelson (U.S.) 71 71 78 72

Matteo Manassero (Italy) 72 69 74 77

293 Gary Woodland (U.S.) 73 70 80 70

296 Darren Clarke (Britain) 69 73 74 80