What's the common thread of the winners of the three major champions in golf thus far in 2012? All have been in a playoff at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the last 15 months.

In 2011, Bubba Watson defeated Webb Simpson on the second playoff hole. Watson claimed his first career major 11 months later by capturing The Masters, while Simpson broke through last month by winning the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club.

This past April, Jason Dufner defeated Ernie Els on the second playoff hole to win the Zurich. Els claimed his fourth career major on Sunday, winning The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

Of the four players involved in playoffs at the TPC Louisiana the last two springs, only Dufner has not claimed a major this year. If he wins the PGA Championship next month – keep in mind that he lost the 2011 PGA in a playoff to Keegan Bradley and was fifth in the 2010 edition – remember where you read it first.