With the pressure ratcheted up in Sunday’s final pairing in Pittsford, N.Y., Jason Dufner held his nerve to prevail at Oak Hill. Here’s how things ended up at the 95th PGA Championship, where accurate approach shots carried Dufner to his maiden major title by two shots over Jim Furyk:
Leaderboard: Jason Dufner (-10), Jim Furyk (-8), Henrik Stenson (-7), Jonas Blixt (-6), Adam Scott (-5),Scott Piercy (-5)
What it means: After coughing up a big lead at the 2011 PGA Championship and ultimately losing in a playoff, Dufner finally has his hands around the Wanamaker Trophy. He becomes the latest first-time major winner on the PGA Tour, and 19th different winner of a major in the last 21 contested. It’s the third career PGA Tour title of his career.
Round of the day: While Scott Piercy shot the low round of the day, a 5-under 65, this honor has to go to Dufner. The champ had four birdies and two bogeys, and the dropped shots didn't cost him. Under the most intense pressure - playing in the final group in a major - Dufner shot under par.
Best of the rest: Several players made runs at the lead, including Piercy and Aussie Jason Day (67). But no one could sustain the momentum down the stretch. In the end, nothing compared to Dufner's preformance.
Biggest disappointment: Co-honors to Adam Scott and Steve Stricker. Scott, bidding for his second major of the year, had five bogeys to offset five birdies. Four back to start the day, he finished five back in a tie for fifth. Stricker had another chance to claim his first major title. Instead, the 46-year-old struggled to get his round going Sunday, making just his first birdie of the day at the 14th hole. That was quickly countered by a double bogey at the par-3 15th. He shot 73 and tied for 12th.
Shot of the day: Staked to a two-shot lead, Dufner stood in the middle of the 16th fairway with wedge in hand. His approach shot landed just past the pin and spun back to within inches of the hole, one of several shots that covered the flag Sunday afternoon. This one, though, led to an easy birdie that helped to maintain his two-shot advantage and kept Furyk at bay.