Visiting American Jason Duffner is competing in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters for a second year running but on this occasion he is the reigning PGA Champion.
Like has changed much for the quietly-spoken Alabama-based Duffner except at home as he revealed today here in Doha.
Jason Dufner in action during Tuesday’s Commmercial Bank Qatar Masters Pro Am. (Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie).
“Life hasn’t changed too much since I won at Oak Hill except that there is a little bit more time dealing with the media and other responsibilities as far as sponsors go.
“There’s also trying to work out schedule.
“But everything else is much the same as my wife still makes me trash out in the morning”.
The 36-year old Alabama-based Duffner arrived in Doha still struggling to shake off a bout of bronchitis and pneumonia he picked a fortnight ago at the Sony Open also in Hawaii.
“I played pretty well in Maui and played pretty well a week later in the Sony and then I got sick,” he said.
“I went to see a doctor when I got back home and he diagnosed me having bronchitis and pneumonia, so I have been trying to deal with that and trying to get healthier.
“It’s cleared up a lot and I am feeling considerably better than I was at the Sony.
“So we’ll see how I perform this week. I didn’t do much practicing last week at home, trying to get healthy and then flew over here.
“I am playing in Dubai next week for a first time, so for me I will try to use the first three or four events to see where I’m at and get going with it.”
The World No. 13 ranked Duffner indicated he will also contest Volvo China Open a fortnight after the Masters at Augusta, and is planning to add a number of other European Tour events to his 2014 schedule.
“I played a handful of European events last year including playing here in Qatar and also in the Perth International in Australia so I hope by travelling will translate into some good results,” he said.
“So I am looking this year to play four to six events and maybe eight this year.
“It might be stepping out of my comfort zone a bit but I think it’s fun.
“Travelling the world as I have started to do recently, and playing in different countries and on different golf courses to the courses back home, it all helping me figure out how to be a better pro.
“You look at the old time players like Mr. Nicklaus, Mr. Player and Mr. Trevino as they travelled all over the world winning many, many tournaments between them in their careers.
“We are a little spoilt in the States given the schedule we play and the purses we play for but this way I get to see the world and who would have thought I would be playing in places like Qatar, the UAE and Australia so it’s win, win situation for me.”
Joining Duffner in this week’s $2.5m event is Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and at No. 3 the highest ranked player in the field.
