Jason Dufner makes bizarre (?!) claim ahead of LIV Golf Promotions
Jason Dufner, who has plied his trade on the PGA Tour for 18 years, has explained his decision to enter LIV Golf's Q-School.
Would it be unreasonable to suggest Jason Dufner was one of the surprise names to enter LIV Golf's Q-School?
The 46-year-old was perhaps one of the highest profile golfers listed in an otherwise underwhelming field at LIV Golf Promotions.
He was joined by former European Ryder Cup member and one of golf's mavericks Victor Dubuisson looking to grab one of three spots available in the 2024 campaign with the breakaway tour.
But the Frenchman has withdrawn from the tournament and announced a surprise retirement at the age of 33, citing loneliness.
Dufner has plied his trade on the PGA Tour for 18 years and his career highlights include making the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team and winning the 2013 PGA Championship.
Those prime years are firmly behind him and, after finishing 172nd in the FedEx Cup his category has changed.
Dufner told a pool of reporters at Abu Dhabi Golf Club that means fewer starts.
So LIV presents the opportunity for something fresh, although he isn't sure about the team aspect.
Dufner said: "It's a little bit different from what I've participated in for the last 23 years or so. I've played 18 years on the PGA Tour.
"[I am] very grateful for all those opportunities, and I'm very proud of the things that I accomplished on this tour.
"I think at this point, maybe something new, maybe something different might refresh me a little bit, and this is an opportunity this week to be part of that golf tour, so that's exciting to me, and I'm looking forward to the week of qualifying and seeing where I stack up.
"A lot of my thought process comes back to the fact of the category that I would be playing out of next year on the PGA Tour.
"I'd be in the past champions category.
"I think that's going to be very limited starts with the way things have changed on the PGA Tour, and I just looked at it like maybe I could come over here and play this tour.
"Maybe that would be an opportunity for me.
"I am an independent contractor, so I'm always looking for opportunities to play.
"I think my starts next year on the PGA Tour would be quite limited, and if I could come over here and have a good week, that would open up some doors for something new and different for me to be part of LIV Golf."
Dufner's comments come amid intense rumours over the future of Jon Rahm.
The Spanish World No. 3 is said to have already agreed a five-year LIV deal worth a reported £450m.
Rahm would likely have his own team, although he would have a natural home with Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC.
Dufner isn't so sure how to feel about the team element. "I've been so removed from that for so long," he said.
"Obviously I played college golf. I've been part of a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup.
"Those have unique aspects to it that are completely different than playing as an individual.
"So that would be a new experience for me to be part of a team, to be part of trying to accomplish something as four players together.
"I don't know how I would feel about that until I was part of that."
Dufner has a bye into the second round of LIV Golf Promotions.
Only 20 players will make it through to the final day where the top three players will earn LIV cards for 2024.
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