"When it comes to sportsmanship, Dufner is a slouch"

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While he didn't spoil the otherwise pleasant and satisfying RBC Heritage final round, Jason Dufner did open a few more eyes to a sour attitude that has lingered well past the Sell By date for someone with so much talent.

His plight is especially perplexing given how much fans want to root for him and media wants to hear from the 2013 PGA Champion, whose dry wit and insights would be welcomed if he were not on a media blackout for two years running now.

From the Heritage final round:


After Sunday's bizarro putter drop and ensuing backlash (Emily Kay with the roundup)

Alex Miceli of the MorningRead.com takes Dufner to task for Sunday's act.

Dufner instead walks the fairways every week as if someone were drawing blood from his veins, lifeless and without purpose.

That’s his prerogative, but most players understand that professional golf is entertainment, so they do what they can to provide fans with excitement and enjoyment.

Dufner? Well, look at what he did Sunday at the RBC Heritage.

Starting the final round with a one-shot lead, Dufner struggled. After missing a 7-foot par putt on the par-5 sixth hole – which he had eagled a day earlier – he tapped in the 2-foot bogey putt, dropped his putter onto the green and walked away, leaving caddie Kevin Baile to clean up the mess.

Twitter respondents called Dufner’s behavior disgusting.

I’d go further and say it’s despicable.

Golf is a game of honor and integrity. Dufner’s actions were the opposite of those characteristics.
Graham DeLaet, looking for his first victory on the PGA Tour, had the misfortune of being Dufner’s playing competitor and also was having a bad day. DeLaet didn’t display the childish emotions of Dufner.

If there is a silver lining, Dufner's behavior reminds us how fine the sportsmanship is most weeks and how appropriate it was that Wesley Bryan, a picture of class and professionalism, posted a final round 67 to win his first PGA Tour event.