BUG Community

FORT WORTH, Texas—Jason Dufner has won twice in the last four weeks after
never winning before on the PGA Tour, yet has struggled at the Colonial. Shayne Graham Jersey . With the confidence in
his game right now, after wins at New Orleans and the Byron Nelson Championship
while getting married in between, maybe Dufner can finally have success at a
difficult course he has always liked. “Pretty much every time I step on the tee
this year, wherever I am at, whatever round it is, I feel like I could play a
good round,” Dufner said. “Thats kind of what my practice and preparation has
put me; prepared me for is to feel comfortable … that my game is in good
shape. And I dont need to do crazy and special things to shoot good scores.”
Dufner isnt the only player feeling good about his game going in the opening
round Thursday in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The field includes
Hunter Mahan, No. 2 behind Dufner in the FedEx Cup standings and the only other
two-time winner this season. There are Zach Johnson and David Toms, the past two
Colonial champions, and 24-year-old Rickie Fowler, who in his last two starts
got his first PGA Tour win along with a runner-up finish at The Players
Championship. Johnson has made the cut in all 12 tournaments he has played this
year, though he hasnt won since slipping on the Colonial plaid jacket two years
after a tournament-record 21-under 259 total. The 45-year-old Toms, coming off a
15th-place tie at Quail Hollow and 10th-place tie at The Players, got his only
victory since 2005 last year at Hogans Alley. “Its a special week for me. Its
always been a tournament that I loved to play, and over the years, I had a lot
of good finishes. But to finally get a victory, it was just awesome really,”
Toms said. “Obviously, I havent had a result this year that I would like. But
thats the way golf is. It kind of goes in cycles. Im hoping to build upon what
Ive done the last couple of tournaments and get myself into position.” Toms won
at Colonial in his 14th try. Johnson won his fifth time, the victory coming in
the middle of his current streak of three top-10 finishes at Colonial. “I do
enjoy coming back here. Certainly the obvious fond reasons, playing well,” said
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion. “I think more than that I really enjoy this
golf course. I think it requires the right kind of golf. I think it separates
the field. If you are off, it will expose that. If you are on, I think you can
climb the leaderboard. ... A lot of tradition, a lot of history here, its good
to be part of that.” When they tee off at No. 1, Toms and Johnson can see their
names on the Wall of Champions with the likes of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold
Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Tiger Woods name isnt there. His only
appearance at the par-70 course was 15 years ago, when he tied for fourth.
Phil Mickelson is a two-time Colonial champion, in 2000 and 2008. He withdrew as
the defending champion in 2009 after his wifes breast cancer diagnosis, then
missed the cut last year with rounds of 71 and 73. Mickelson isnt back this
year, indicating last week while at the Byron Nelson Championship that the
Colonial course doesnt suit his game any longer following some changes made
there since his last victory. Fowler took a break last week after his overly
successful three-week stretch. He was 10th at New Orleans before winning at
Quail Hollow and then finishing tied for second at The Players. “I definitely
feel a little bit more free, playing I guess with a little less pressure.
Obviously feeling really good about my game mentally and physically,” Fowler
said. “Its been fun to kind of relive 18 at Quail Hollow, and I cant wait to get
my seconds.” Fowler is at Colonial for the third time, improving from a
38th-place tie in 2010 to a 16th-place tie a year ago. Dufner has played the
Colonial three times before. He tied for 59th place in 2009, but missed the cut
in 2007 and again last year. But so much has changed for Dufner since his
second-round 6-over 76 at Colonial last May. There was the runner-up finish in a
playoff at the PGA Championship after blowing a four-stroke lead with four holes
to play, then the two recent victories. “Just from the mental side of it, just
the experiences that I have had since last August, I think, has made me a better
player,” he said. “It made me realize some things. It made me maybe prove to
myself some things that maybe I thought werent possible that I could do out
here. I think all of that will help me in the long run definitely.” Andre Johnson Elite Jersey . The
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies said Tuesday they will appeal the suspension handed
Cormier for his hit to the head of Quebec Remparts defenceman Mikael Tam. Andre Johnson Jersey .C. – Winning a major is
the final piece for Tiger Woods to put his game back together. http://www.nfltexansfan.com/matt-schaub-jersey
. Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for his first shutout of the season, defencemen
Fedor Tyutin and Nikita Nikitin both scored, and the Blue Jackets beat the
Avalanche 2-0 on Thursday night to end an 0-9-1 skid against Colorado that dated
to the 2009-10 season. Johnathan Joseph Jersey . Holliday was placed
on the 15-day disabled list May 25 with a strained hamstring. He was batting
.321 with eight homers and 26 RBIs at the time. Rockies shortstops Troy
Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes and outfielder Brad Hawpe are also on the DL. Arian Foster Jersey . —Magic forward
Hedo Turkoglu will undergo surgery for a facial fracture and miss at least the
final three weeks of the regular season.Defensive back Paul Woldu signed with
the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the first day of free agency on Wednesday. The
Regina native has spent the last four seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. In 66
regular season games played with the Als, the 27-year-old tallied 50 special
teams tackless, 29 defensive tackles, and three interceptions for 72 yards and
one touchdown. Ben Tate Jersey. He was also a member of the
2009 and 2010 Grey Cup championship teams. Last season, the University of
Saskatchewan product registered 15 tackles, including seven on special teams. ’
’ ’