Hunter Mahan fired a 6-under-par 65 on Sunday to win The Barclays by two strokes, giving the US player his first tour victory in more than two years.
Mahan, who had not taken a title since the 2012 Houston Open, birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to seize a three-stroke lead, then sank a clutch 8 foot bogey putt at 18 to claim the first event in the US Tour’s season-ending playoffs.
“Haven’t played my best this year so to get a win in an event like this and the timing what it was, it feels incredible,” Mahan said.
Photo: AFP
Mahan, who had only a pair of top-five finishes this season before this week, finished 72 holes on 14-under 270, with Australians Jason Day and Stuart Appleby, and American Cameron Tringale sharing second on 272.
Four-time major winner Ernie Els was on 273, with William McGirt, Matt Kuchar and Jim Furyk another shot back.
The event launched the season-ending series of tournaments that reduce fields until 30 players qualify for the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta, Georgia, next month. Mahan now leads the point chase, giving him the best chance at the US$10 million bonus for the season’s points winner.
“I felt great the past few weeks,” Mahan said. “The game was starting to come around, making some putts. I knew it was around the corner but to do it today is really incredible.”
Mahan was surprised at the 18th green by his wife Kandi and daughter Zoe, who flew to suburban New York on Sunday to see his first win as a father.
“There was a lot going on in my head right then, but it’s always great to see them,” Mahan said. “They make every day a little bit better.”
Mahan opened with a birdie and added another at the fifth, but he made his move on the back nine, with birdies at the 11th and par-5 13th before his key run of three in a row, the last a 25-footer that eased the pressure on 18, where he found trees off the tee and went over the green on his approach only to make a vital putt.
When Day failed to find the hole out of the rough in the last group just behind him, Mahan had the victory.
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