Dufner, jockeys take swings from the Spires at Churchill

Jason Dufner showed up to Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day with his wife, Amanda, and discovered he'd rather get into owning horses than betting on them.

"At least you get something out of it," the defending PGA Championship winner said. "I just watched the race for two minutes and down the toilet it went."

Dufner returned to Churchill on Wednesday only to be bested again.

While in town to promote the upcoming PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club — it's now just seven weeks away — Dufner took five swings from Churchill's Twin Spires with the target the horseshoe-shaped Derby winner's circle four stories and 102 feet below.

First, though, avid golfers with day jobs as jockeys, Corey Lanerie and Robby Albarado, took a trio of hacks from a makeshift tee box.

Lanerie placed a ball within feet of pin. Albarado, playing his shot with a stiff wind from right to left, put one closer. And Dufner, who landed two of his five shots within the horseshoe green, couldn't quite match.

"Everybody's got to beat the pro," Dufner joked. "I show up to be a nice guy. They're being all serious."

Dufner brought a full bag of clubs and quite the audience, including Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and PGA of America President Ted Bishop, all at the Downs to watch the first golf shots from the Spires.

Asked about how this Par 3 stacks up to a regular course, Dufner again went with humor.

"This one's pretty challenging," he said. "It looks like a tough walk from here to the green. I don't know how I'll get there."

After Steve Buttleman played the "Call to the Post" — or, really, tee box — Dufner also found out Lanerie and Albarado brought their own clubs to the competition.

"I was going to ride around on a horse," he said, "but they wouldn't let me bring my horse."

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.