If Jason Dufner keeps doing what he’s doing perhaps they can rename this PGA Tour stop the Career-Rebuilders.
Dufner hasn’t won the tour since he captured the 2013 PGA Championship. His career spiraled downward, he faced and went through a divorce and now apparently is ready for a comeback.
It certainly looks that way Friday at the halfway point of the CareerBuilders Challenge, today’s name for what used to be the Bob Hope Classic.
With rounds of 64-65, Dufner is leading a birdie parade where you need to go low if you want to be in contention come Sunday. He’s a shot in front of Jamie Lovemark and three in front of a group at 12-under that includes defending champion Bill Haas.
Phil Mickelson is trying to forge his own comeback after back-to-back winless seasons and he’s in the hunt at 11-under but it’s crowded there with a half-dozen other players joining him.
Haas shot 22-under to win last year and it may take a lower score than that this year. Dufner’s on pace to blow past it and he has a big opportunity as he will move over to the LaQuinta course on Saturday, one made for scoring and made for Dufner’s tee-to-green skills.
The difference this week for the former PGA champ is the putter. The ball is going in the hole again for him and he had 11 one-putt greens on Friday.
