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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 4 May 2019
Jason Dufner takes Wells Fargo lead with a 63

By DOUG FERGUSON settled with everything," he
AP Golf Writer said. "Sometimes you make
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) a change and it happens
— Jason Dufner's game immediately. For me, that
was going nowhere, so wasn't the case. But kind
he changed everything of getting past all those
from his swing coach to his changes and settling into
equipment to his caddie. playing some better golf
It didn't get any better. instead of coming to tour-
He at least is starting to naments wondering how I
see signs of it coming to- might play or how it might
gether with an 8-under 63 go or is this going to be the
on Friday in the Wells Fargo right change. Getting to
Championship, matching where I feel more comfort-
his career-low score on the able with that and I can just
PGA Tour and giving him a go out play free and play
one-shot lead going into some good golf."
the weekend at Quail Hol- Dufner turned 42 in March
low. and realizes he doesn't
Dufner considers it the best have many years left to
two rounds he has put to- compete at a high level.
gether since the 2017 Me- "I'm not really trying to be
morial, which also is the last mediocre," he said. "I'm
time he had a 36-hole lead. searching for things that
"See how it goes being in are going to make me a
the heat of it on Saturday better player."
and Sunday," Dufner said. Homa always had the tal-
"I've been there before. It's ent, winning the NCAA title
been a while, but I kind of at Cal with a three-shot vic-
know what to expect. It will tory over Jon Rahm. He just
be a good challenge to fell into the trap of thinking
see where I'm at, what I'm he had to be even better
doing." when he got to the PGA
Dufner was at 11-under 131. Tour, and he's had a rough
Joel Dahmen made his first go of it. But when he's driv-
bogey of the week on his ing it well, it frees up the rest
final hole of the second Jason Dufner watches his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo of his game.
round — from the middle Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, May 3, 2019. He also went back to long-
of the fairway, no less — Associated Press time friend Joe Greiner,
but still had a 66 and was who caddied for him his
one-shot behind. So was a fat shot out of a bunker "Golf, it's a funny game and stuff that's going to work." first year on tour until leav-
Max Homa, who also knows and a pitch too strong over these things happen." It worked on Friday at Quail ing for another friend, Kevin
about coping with bad re- the green at No. 8, and Dufner didn't find too much Hollow. Chappell.
sults when he missed the then went over the green funny about last year, He started his round by "Joe stayed with me until
cut in 14 out of 17 events in on No. 9 for a bogey and when his world ranking fell missing the green 35 yards it became financially irre-
2017. He birdied his last two a 70. from No. 41 to No. 124 and to the left and holing the sponsible for him to work for
holes for a 63. Even so, he was five behind he missed the cut 11 times. chip over the bunker. He me," Homa said.
The weekend at the Wells and in the mix for a third ti- That's when he decided made a 20-foot eagle. He Chappell had back surgery
Fargo Championship will tle at Quail Hollow. He was to make changes to just missed a 3-foot par putt. and is out until the fall, and
not feature Phil Mickelson at 6-under 136 along with about everything. He drove the green on the Homa brought him back.
for the first time since he Patrick Reed, who had a "This is my fourth caddie of par-4 14th for another bird- "My attitude is awesome
started playing it in 2004. 69 as he goes for his first top the year so far," he said. "I ie. And he capped it all off nowadays," he said. "I don't
Mickelson shot 41 on the 10 of the year. Defending left Chuck Cook, started with a 40-foot birdie putt on really get too down on my-
front nine and wound up champion Jason Day (69) doing some other things. the peninsula green at the self. I have an awesome,
with a 76 to miss the cut by was six behind. I started working with Phil par-3 17th. awesome caddie that
four shots. "I stood up here last night Kenyon. I think I'm on my It was the first time he shot doesn't let me. If I'm quiet,
Rory McIlroy was stride for talking about that I got the fourth or fifth putter this 63 since Oak Hill in 2013, he yells at me and tells me
stride with Dufner until he most out of it yesterday, year. I'm on my fourth or the year he won the PGA quiet golfers are usually
dropped three shots over and today it was the com- fifth driver, my fourth or fifth Championship. very mean to themselves,
the last two holes. McIlroy plete opposite. I turned a golf ball, fourth or fifth lob "I'm just getting to that so we have a good thing
made double bogey with 66 into a 70," McIlroy said. wedge. I'm trying to find point where I'm kind of going."q

Trump to present Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods next week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- awards ceremony will be after the tournament that and, more importantly, who played with Woods at
dent Donald Trump will held in the Rose Garden on he had congratulated LIFE." Trump's golf club in Jupiter,
present the Presidential Monday. Woods and informed him It's the nation's highest hon- Florida, in February. Trump
Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods overcame personal that he would be receiv- or for a civilian and presi- also watched the Masters
Woods next week. and professional adversity ing the medal because of dents have wide discretion from his Virginia golf club.q
White House press secre- to win his fifth Masters title his "incredible Success & over whom to award it.
tary Sarah Sanders says an last month. Trump tweeted Comeback in Sports (Golf) Trump is an avid golfer