IRVING, Texas — A month ago, Jason Dufner was a single man still in search of his first PGA Tour victory.
Life has certainly changed for the 35-year-old golfer who last summer at the PGA Championship blew a four-stroke lead with four holes to play and lost in a playoff.
With a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the Byron Nelson Championship yesterday, Dufner closed out a one-stroke victory over Dicky Pride to win for the second time in four weeks.
“You probably couldn’t dream it any better than what’s been going on here,” Dufner said. “The wedding has been in the works for close to a year, so we know that’s been coming around the corner. And there’s been a lot of good golf since then, but to win two events and get married in the span of 22 days, pretty remarkable.”
Dufner got his first victory April 29 at New Orleans, then got married the following week.
Now he has already won again, this time making $1.17 million and taking over the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings.
His closing birdie wrapped up a 3-under 67 round for an 11-under 269 to avoid a playoff with Pride.
Pride, whose only PGA Tour victory in a 20-year professional career came in 1994, was at 10 under with a par-saving 22-foot putt at No. 18 for a round of 67 after hitting his drive into the water.
Moments later, Dufner made a putt that was only a few feet longer but on virtually the same line.
Joe Durant, who was the final alternate added to the Nelson field, shot a 65 to finish in a tie for third at 271 with J.J. Henry (68), Marc Leishman (66) and rookie Jonas Blixt (66).
Phil Mickelson, making his first Nelson start in five years, had four consecutive birdies on the front nine and went on to a round of 66 to finish four strokes back.