Mahan scores victory with a late flourish
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HUNTER Mahan came from four strokes back to beat Rickie Fowler by a shot to claim the Phoenix Open title on Sunday in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The 27-year-old Mahan had an eagle and a pair of birdies in a late four-hole span to finish at 16-under 268 for his second PGA Tour victory. The first came at the Travelers Championship in 2007. Mahan closed with consecutive 6-under 65s to finish at 16 under.
He is the eighth US-born player still in his 20s to win more than one tournament.
Fowler, just 21 and a tour rookie, had a final-round 68 for the second runner-up finish of his young career, both of them in Arizona.
South Korea's Y.E. Yang also shot a 65 to finish at 14 under, two off the pace. Last year's PGA Championship winner, Yang led until his tee shot went in the water at No. 17.
Mathew Goggin, Chris Couch and Charles Howell III shared fourth at 13 under.
Third-round leader Brandt Snedeker struggled mightily at TPC Scottsdale with a 78 to wind up far back at 7 under.
Although he hasn't won, Mahan has played well the past two years. He played on the 2008 Ryder Cup team and had six top-10s in 2009, including a runner-up finish at the AT&T National.
"It's just finding a way to win. I just haven't been able to do it," he said. "So obviously it feels great to get off the year on my fifth tournament to win. It gives me a lot of confidence in myself that I'm doing the right things in my game, and it feels great, it really does."
Heavy rain fell overnight at TPC Scottsdale and sprinkles lingered in the morning. But the rain subsided by the time the leaders teed off at noon.
Going down the stretch, it was a three-way battle with Mahan, Fowler and Yang.
Yang, whose PGA Championship victory made him the first Asian-born golfer to win a major, eagled No. 10, then reeled off four consecutive birdies to take the lead at 15 under through 15 holes.
Trouble came, though, at No. 17, where his tee shot bounced into the water. Yang's 25-foot putt for par was on line but stopped an inch short of the cup, and the bogey left him at 14 under.
Mahan, meanwhile, hit his second shot on the par-5 13th 250 yards within 7 feet and made the eagle putt to reach 14 under.
His 18-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th moved him ahead of Yang at 15 under.
The clincher came at the notorious 16th, the par 3 surrounded by bleachers filled with noisy fans who cheer and boo with equal enthusiasm.
Mahan's tee shot caught the edge of the green and he made the subsequent 14?-foot putt to regain the lead at 16 under.
Twice champion Phil Mickelson finished with a 67 to get to nine-under and a tie for 24th but is still looking for his first win of the year.
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