A friend introduced Amanda Boyd of Millbrook, Ala. and Jason Dufner of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when Amanda was a student at the University of Alabama and Jason, a graduate of Auburn University, was playing on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour. Their first date went well, but with Dufner’s hectic schedule, he pretty much kissed her goodnight and disappeared. He did call often, and the two had long conversations, but they did not actually see each other again until both just happened to be in New Orleans for New Year’s Eve. From then on, they were inseparable.
Amanda juggled school and traveling with Jason, completing her schoolwork in hotels while Jason was on the golf course.
After graduation in 2010, Amanda had hoped Jason would propose. In fact, it was more than just a hope since a friend slipped up and told her Jason had already bought the ring.
“Every time we were going out somewhere, I would get all dressed up just in case that was going to be the night he popped the question,” says Amanda. “But he never did.”
Almost a year passed with no proposal.
“I had been planning to propose in early 2011, while we were in Hawaii,” says Jason. “But I found out Amanda knew I had the ring, so the element of surprise was gone. Then my schedule got really busy, and I couldn’t find a time to make it special. Until July.”
Amanda joined Jason for a tournament in Philadelphia the week of July fourth, and when Jason missed the cut, he knew he had the perfect opportunity.
“We took a train to New York and had dinner at STK, our favorite restaurant, before going to a rooftop bar overlooking the Hudson River,” remembers Amanda. “We were watching the fireworks over the river and when I turned around, Jason was on one knee. I don’t really remember much after that, only that I was bawling and complete strangers were applauding, snapping pictures and buying us drinks.”
Amanda immediately went into wedding-planning mode, most of which was done while traveling with Jason, who was able to switch his schedule around to accommodate the May wedding of his bride-to-be’s dreams.
SEPERATION & DIVORCE
A day after finishing tied for 24th at the Valspar Championship, Jason Dufner agreed to a divorce settlement with his wife Amanda.
The Dufners were married in May 2012 and according to court documents obtained by GolfChannel.com the two separated on Feb. 17, 2015.
According to the divorce settlement, which was filed on March 16 by Amanda Dufner, there had been an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” and there was “a complete incompatibility of temperament that the parties can no longer live together.”
The divorce was filed in Jefferson (Ala.) County and a judge still has to make a final ruling, which is expected in April, 2015