DeLaet a shot back at Harbour Town
Dufner makes most of par-fives to take lead over Canadian searching for his first title
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.— Jason Dufner took more than a solid showing away from the Masters last week. He took inspiration from winner Sergio Garcia.
Dufner finished 33rd in the year’s first major, with things getting away from him late in the final round a week ago. But he took something from Garcia managing his expectations and letting his game show through. And Dufner believes that’s why he has a one-shot lead heading to the final round of the RBC Heritage.
Dufner had two eagles on the way to a 6-under 65 to move in front of Canadian Graham DeLaet (69).
Dufner, at 13-under, said he entered Harbour Town Golf Links with low expectations, deciding that he had gone through too many tournaments overthinking how he was supposed to play or whose expectations he was supposed to live up to.
“That really gets in the way of playing well, to be honest with you,” said Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner. “So I think I maybe learned a little bit from the champion last week, where he kind of lowered his expectations, and got out of his way, so to speak, and let his talent and his game plan take it from there.”
Dufner’s talent was on display, particularly on Harbour Town’s par-fives.
He blasted a 215-yard approach on the second hole to 11 feet for his first eagle. He was short of the fifth green in two, then chipped in from about 100 feet for his second eagle. On the 15th, the course’s final long hole, Dufner settled for birdie, part of three in a row on the back nine that took him into the lead.
Dufner plays Harbour Town often, but without much success. His best finish was a tie for 14th and only once in seven previous fourth rounds has he shot in the 60s. He is chasing his fifth PGA Tour title — and just the second since winning the Wanamaker Trophy at Oak Hill four years ago.
“I feel like this golf course has always been a good setup for me,” Dufner said. “I haven’t had amazing results here, but I’ve been pretty consistent. We’ll see how it goes (Sunday).”
DeLaet was tied with Dufner heading into his final hole, but three-putted No. 18 from 35 feet to fall back. Still, it was the Weyburn, Sask., native’s third straight sub-70 round after having just five in five previous appearances here.
DeLaet is seeking his first tour win and knows it will take a mental effort to keep him straight.
“Obviously, this is the one thing that’s kind of missing,” DeLaet said. “So there’s going to be some battles (inside) that I’m going to have to deal with.”
Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 70 and was tied for ninth at 8-under par. Adam Hadwin, also of Abbotsford, was at 5-under after a 71 and David Hearn, of Brantford, Ont., was at 4-under after shooting 69.
Kevin Kisner and Webb Simpson were at 11-under. Kisner shot a 66, and Simpson, the former U.S. Open champ, had a 68. Kisner followed up his 64 with a second straight bogey-free round at Harbour Town. The last of his five birdies — a 30-footer on No.17 — pushed him into the tie with Simpson.
Simpson was the hottest player when the round began, going 4-under over his first six holes including an eagle-3 at the par-five fifth. Then Simpson cooled off, with 11 pars and a bogey on the 16th that dropped him two shots behind.