Call it crazy and you can call it stupid but a new craze has swept the Shell Houston Open – ‘Dufnering’.
The protagonist himself, Jason Dufner, explained the photograh taken of him looking thoroughly disinterested in a classroom surrounded by children, while performing a charity visit to the J. Erik Jonsson Community School in Dallas.
Dufner sat next to two children who were listening intently to the teacher. His legs are erect, his arms stiff at his side, and he has a vacant look on his face. Dufner is known for showing little emotion, even with a major championship at stake. He looks even more lifeless in this photo.
”Just caught me at a perfect time,” Dufner said. ”The funny thing about it is the photo taken represents how I act all the time. It was a sheer moment of ‘Jason Dufner‘ by whoever captured the moment for the 30 seconds I checked out.”
The snap was taken by Christine Lee of KXAS-TV, a video journalist for the NBC affiliate in Dallas who was covering Dufner’s appearance at the school.
Dufner won the Byron Nelson Championship last year. The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, which runs the tournament, directs some of its charitable proceeds to the school for disadvantaged children. To drum up publicity as the defending champion, Dufner made an appearance at the school Thursday.
The pose has been labelled ‘Dufnering’ and those already in on the act include Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Rickie Fowler while there is a three-ball shot of Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley taken on the Redstone practice range.
McIlroy had spent the night before his second round 70 watching various UTube and Twitter pictures of ‘Dufnering’.
“It’s the best thing ever and I’ve never had so much entertainment,” said McIlroy.
“I was on my own last night in my hotel room and just going through things. The laughs, it’s just so much fun.
“And the first thing I said to Keegan (Bradley) when I saw him this morning, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever seen’. I texted Jason last night and it was just good entertainment for the night.”
Masters champion, Bubba Watson who is not competing in Houston has a shot on Twitter of ‘Dufnering’ beside his beloved General Lee Dodge Charger.
And Tour Miss also got into the craze with a Dufnering pose in the Media Centre here at the Shell Houston Open.
Dufner later explained; “What can I say?. I was tired, my back hurt from sitting on the floor, and we were talking about relaxation and focusing.”
Jason Dufner started the craze with this shot.
Tour Miss gets into the ‘Dufnering’ craze.
- Luke Donald photographed in his Chicago home.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy ‘Dufnering’ in his Houston hotel room.
Bubba Watson ‘Dufnering’ beside his beloved General Lee Dodge Charger
- Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker
Rickie Fowler with his Jason Dufner impersonation.
.. and even a Polar bear gets into the ‘Dufnering’ craze.
