KAPALUA, Maui » Adam Scott and Jason Dufner were paired so often in the majors last year, they didn’t have much room for anyone else on their dance card.
So when the Masters and PGA Championship winners were together again in Sunday’s third round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, it was a comfortable fit for both in this week’s elite field.
"When I saw today’s pairing I felt good about it," Scott said. "We played a lot together last year. Fed off each other a little bit. We had a nice start today, but I think we were both a little disappointed at how we finished."
Heading into the par-5 15th, Scott was 5 under for his round and Dufner was 3 under. They exited the green tied at 4 under for the day. Scott found himself in the junk after his second shot to set up a 64-footer for par that he missed. Dufner was in the middle of a three-birdie streak that ended with a bogey at the difficult par-4 17th. Scott also bogeyed that hole but birdied the last to card a 4-under 69 that left him tied for ninth at 10-under 209.
Dufner missed a 7-footer at the closing hole to settle for a 69 and a 54-hole score of 208 that left him in a tie for fifth, three strokes off the pace. Dufner exited the scorer’s tent and immediately went to a long line of autograph seekers to cool off a bit before facing the media. Like Scott, Dufner enjoyed his round — until the closing holes.
"I was a little disappointed with the way I finished with a bogey on 17 and a par on 18," Dufner said. "But I’m in the mix of it. I’m probably going to be behind three shots, so I’m going to have to be pretty aggressive tomorrow. I’ve got a nice chance and I’m in a nice spot.
"We’ve played a lot (together), actually," Dufner said of his round with Scott. "I played with him at Augusta (Masters), played with him at the U.S. Open, played with him at the PGA. We played together at the Grand Slam, obviously. We’re real comfortable with each other. It’s a good pairing. You always like to play with guys like that, high-ranked guy. I think he’s No. 2 in the world right now. It just gives you a good measuring stick to see where you match up."
Today’s national-championship game between Auburn and Florida State is almost as important to Dufner as his final round. The Tigers graduate will have one eye on the leaderboard and another on the football game should the closing 18 go long. When asked if the choice came down to him winning or Auburn going home with the national crown, Dufner wavered a bit.
"That’s a tough one," Dufner said. "I’d probably have to be a little selfish and go with myself, unfortunately, but those guys have worked really hard. Maybe I’d go with them because I’ve got at least another 25 or so events that I can pick out here to win. It’s a toss-up, really."
What if there was a playoff and he was in it?
"I’m going to maybe either go real aggressive on the last hole and try to get a 3 or a 6, and get out of there, no playoffs," Dufner said, then smiled.
He and Scott will travel to Oahu on Tuesday to play in this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii. Scott is looking forward to the flat Waialae Country Club course after strolling through the hills of the Plantation layout. Scott hasn’t been to the Sony in a while and lamented that fact after Sunday’s round.
"This is a nice way to start the year," Scott said. "The couple of times I’ve given up the chance to come here, I’ve regretted it later, so I didn’t want to do that this year. I’ve had some success there. I finished second one year and I really like the golf course there.
"I’m looking forward to going back. It’s a real challenge for me because it certainly doesn’t set up for long hitters. I have to play nice, accurate golf, which is a good challenge. There’s still a bit of holidays in my golf swing. There’s much work to be done."
