Dufner, Watson, hope return to TPC Louisiana, site of past PGA wins, boosts 2013 fortunes

Jason Dufner hits from the first fairway during the first round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/The Island Packet, Sarah Welliver) (The Associated Press)

A year ago, Jason Dufner won the Zurich Classic to become the fifth player in the last eight years to celebrate his maiden PGA Tour triumph in New Orleans.

This weekend, Dufner seeks to become the first repeat winner in the Big Easy since Carlos Franco in 2000. But even if Dufner struggles with the inconsistency that has kept him out of the top 10 this season, the odds of yet another first-time winner seem increasingly slim.

Dufner is one of eight former winners of New Orleans' tour stop who are back at the TPC Louisiana.

He'll tee off with two of them — Bubba Watson and Nick Watney — in the first round Thursday.

In all, the field includes more than 60 players who've won on the PGA Tour.