Dufner in prime position for first major win at Masters

Jason Dufner is quite a contrast to his not-so-shy friend Charles Barkley, a fellow former Auburn Tiger.

Although Dufner kept his emotions in check during the second round of the Masters Tournament on Friday, he said the former basketball star is much different.

“We make a good combo,” Dufner said. “He’s a little bit more out there and wears his emotions on his sleeve and tells people what he’s got on his mind no matter the consequences.”

After opening with 69, the stoic Dufner played steady throughout a seesaw second round en route to 70. At the halfway mark, Dufner is 5-under and in good position to win his first major championship.

In the previous major in Georgia, Dufner almost won the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. He held a five-shot lead with four to play but eventually lost a playoff to Keegan Bradley. Despite the setback, Dufner has rebounded nicely. In seven stroke-play events on the PGA Tour this year, he has posted four top-20 showings.

“I had some really nice rounds at the PGA,” the 35-year-old Dufner said. “It didn’t quite work out, but it carried over to this year. It gave me confidence that I can compete and play at a high level out here and do really nice things.”

In his second Masters appearance, Dufner did some nice things early in the second round, with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 to get to 5-under. He followed with a poor tee shot that led to double bogey at No. 4. Later, he birdied Nos. 13 and 14 before hitting his tee shot to four feet at 16 for another birdie.

Dufner hit 23 of 28 fairways this week and appeared to be heading into the clubhouse with the outright lead at 6-under until he hit his approach into the right bunker at 18. He blasted out to eight feet but missed the par putt.

“You just want to take advantage of when you’re feeling comfortable with certain iron shots and manage when you can when you’re not feeling so comfortable,” he said. “I’m pretty comfortable out here. At the PGA, you’ve got to be a little sharper off the tee. You can get away with a little bit more on this golf course.”