By Gary Anderson

August 11 - DUFNERAmerican Jason Dufner claimed his maiden Major victory at Oak Hill in New York with a final found of 68 to become USPGA champion and banish the memories of 2011 when he blew a five-shot lead with four holes to play in the same tournament in Atlanta.


Dufner finished on 10 under-par, two shots ahead of overnight leader and compatriot Jim Furyk, whose final round 71 was not enough to see him add this Championship to his 2003 US Open title.

Swedish pair Henrik Stenson and Jonas Blixt finished three and four shots behind winner Dufner respectively, while defending champion Rory McIllroy from Northern Ireland recovered from a poor opening two rounds to make the weekend's play eventually finishing on a score of three under.

Dufner, 36, had illustrated his command of the upstate New York course on Friday (August 9) as he equalled the lowest score in major history with a second round 63, which left him leading the field going into the weekend.

A third round one over-par saw the man from Cleveland fall one stroke behind eight-time Ryder Cup veteran Furyk going into the final day's play but Dufner produced an almost error free final trip, and despite bogeys on the final two holes he managed to hold off the challenge of Furyk, who also dropped shots on the 17th and 18th.

Afterwards, a relieved Dufner, who now becomes the 18th different winner of the last 20 Majors, was delighted to have finally put his play-off loss to Keegan Bradley in 2011 firmly behind him.

Jason Dufner left held his nerve to see off the challenge of compatriot Jim Furyk to claim the USPGA ChampionshipAmerican Jason Dufner left held his nerve to see off the challenge of compatriot Jim Furyk to claim the USPGA Championship, the first Major of his career

"I can't believe this is happening to me," said the two-time PGA Tour winner.

"To come back from a couple of years ago in this Championship when I lost to Keegan in the play-off, to win feels really, really good.

"The last two holes were a little unfortunate.

"I wish I could've closed out with no bogeys but I am happy to get the job done.

"It's a big step for my career.

"I just decided that I was going to be confident.

"I was going to put my best foot forward and try to win this thing."

A disappointed Furyk rued his two dropped shots on the final two holes which cost him the opportunity of winning a 17th career title.

"I needed to keep the pedal down and make pars there and keep the pressure on him and I just didn't do it," he said.

"If I could go back I would have to try and make par at 17 and 18 and try and put some heat on him."

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