Mahan breaks through in playoff at Travelers

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 Travelers Championship | Round Four | 25 Jun 2007

A two foot birdie putt at the first hole of a playoff with Jay Williamson, at the Travelers Championship just outside of Hartford, has secured Hunter Mahan his first USPGA Tour title and opens many of the doors that most thought would open earlier for the 25-year-old from Texas.

Mahan turned professional in 2003 after a stellar career as an amateur where he played his collegiate golf at Southern California and then Oklahoma State. He joined the PGA Tour in 2004 having gained his card via the Tour School late that year. He safely retained his card in that rookie season but lost full status in 2005 before regaining it at the Tour School. He improved further in 2006, ironically much of that as a result of his runner up placing to J.J. Henry in this same event twelve months ago.

Mahan has struggled for much of this year until Memphis a few weeks ago where he finished 17th and proved his game was in good shape by holding together in the battle that was Oakmont for 13th. That was by far his best finish in a major but he now has an opportunity to play Augusta National for the second time in 2008 with all PGA Tour winners in any given year now getting access to the Masters each season. Mahan first played The Masters in 2003, the result of fishing runner up to Ricky Barnes in the 2002 US Amateur.

Mahan had started the final round one shot behind another player yet to win on the PGA Tour, Jay Williamson, so for both players this would be a huge day in their respective careers. When Mahan powered through the opening 13 holes in six under he appeared unstoppable as he had then opened up a two shot lead over the more experienced but less credentialed Williamson. They had spread-eagled the field at that stage as there was a gap of three shots back to Nick O’Hern who was doing his best to bridge the gap but to no avail.

At the par four 18th both players drove it well although Williamson was first to play his second. He hit a quality shot to 14 feet and, with a one shot lead, waited while Mahan, who desperately needed a birdie, hit his approach. It flew right at the flag and came to rest six feet closer than Williamson. Williamson’s putt to seal the victory missed on the low side and Mahan then needed his to force the playoff. It went straight in and so it was back to the 18th tee.

At the first playoff hole a similar scenario was played out from the tee with Mahan again a long way ahead of his opponent. Williamson hit his second to 10 feet while Mahan followed with what he will consider one of the great shots of his career to date when his approach covered the flag and finished 2 feet from the hole. Williamson despite having the knowledge of a putt on a similar line twenty minutes earlier was unable to convert and Mahan was left to tap his putt in for the title.

Nick O’Hern produced his best finish of the year on the PGA Tour when third. O’Hern is into his second season on the PGA Tour but this time has made a full commitment by basing himself in Florida. In his rookie season in 2006 he commuted between the US and his home in Perth while his wife Alana gave birth to their second child but now with the advantage of living close to his workplace he is reaping the rewards. His third place finish will earn him US$408,000 and take his earnings to US$1.2 million for the season already. O’Hern continues to go quietly about his business accumulating a not so small fortune without winning very often.

Vijay Singh powered home to finish fourth after weekend rounds of 66 and 65.

The Australians other than O’Hern had a variety of stories. Steve Allan and Mathew Goggin finished 15th, Peter Lonard 29th, Michael Sim and Rod Pampling 36th and Andrew Buckle 46th.

Sim was playing in just his fifth USPGA Tour event of the season but again highlighted his class with an opening round of 65 and a closing round of 66. He played the front nine in 30 today having played it in 29 on Thursday. Steve Allan had his best finish of the season and seems to be on the improve. He has made eight of ten PGA Tour cuts in 2007.