AKRON, Ohio – Jason Dufner has received an injury setback as he gets set to defend his PGA Championship title next week.
According to a PGATour.com report, Dufner was diagnosed with two bulging discs in his neck Wednesday after recently undergoing an MRI. The 37-year-old had reportedly been feeling pain since the Masters, and while no surgery is required Dufner did receive a shot earlier this week to limit inflammation.
Dufner lost in a playoff to Adam Scott at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May, but outside of that result his 2014 season has been a struggle. His only other top-10 finishes came among limited fields at Kapalua, Dove Mountain and Doral, and Dufner has missed two of his last three cuts dating back to the U.S. Open.
Dufner remains in the field for this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and will begin the first round at Firestone Country Club at 1:50 p.m. ET Thursday alongside Ernie Els.
