Planet Golf — 30 March 2013 by GW staff and news services
From planking; now ‘Dufnering’

Golf trends move fast, and another one has swept across social media and beyond. First there was Golf Boys’ “2.Oh” music video” and then Sergio Garcia’s tree shot.

Now there’s “Dufnering.”

The new term was coined after a photo of Dufner began circulating online (above) of him visiting the Salesmanship Youth and Family Centers as the defending champion of the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Shortly after Dufner’s peers came off the golf course at the Shell Houston Open on Thursday, the photo quickly spread across Twitter (below).

Bubba Watson does his best 'Dufnering'

Other players began ‘dufnering, such as Bubba Watson (left).

Also, Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker also got into the mix (below).

On Thursday, Dufner visited Irving, Texas, where he was celebrated as the reigning Byron Nelson Championship winner. He met with the mayor, hobnobbed with event sponsors and toured the tournament’s offices before heading over to The Salesmanship School to speak with a third-grade class.

The lesson for the day was concentration, something that comes in handy when you’re trying to hit a golf ball in front of thousands of fans.

“It was a focus activity to help them get ready to learn,” said Tracy Cobb, the tournament’s director of communications. “It’s about concentrating, paying attention to breathing. They would stand up and put a beanbag on their heads, using that mental focus. Then we let Jason talk to them about importance of focusing on the golf course and how critical that is for him.”

Having fun with Dufnering are Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker

By Cobb’s account, Dufner was engaging and having fun talking with the kids. Once he was done, they went through one more focusing exercise that involved multiple repetitions of standing up and sitting down. Upon the last time, Dufner relaxed a little and, well, history was made.

A local news reporter – though it could have been anyone; there were about 60 people in the room and many were taking cell phone photos – took a picture of Dufner sitting against a wall, legs stretched out while sitting on his hands, a distant look on his face. If a picture says a thousand words, this one screamed classic Dufner, the man who looks the same whether he makes birdie or bogey, whether he’s winning or missing the cut.

Michelle Wie "Dufnering' on the Dinah Shore Walk

Dufner, realizing his photo generated a phenomenon, tweeted,  “What can I say, I was tired, my back hurt from sitting on the floor, and we were talking about relaxation and focusing.”

 

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