News
Hunter or Hunted? Mahan Defends in the Desert
By Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com
It seems obvious that a lot of people turn to the defending champion each week on the PGA with high hopes and expectations. I mean, if a guy can win on a course once why can’t he follow it up the very next year?
It is not that simple so as nice as it is to drag Hunter Mahan into the media room at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, is it really fair to expect he will repeat last year’s exploits? Not really, but based on his play last week, why not?
Admittedly a slow starter each year Mahan said Tuesday that he thinks he is really ahead of pace on last year, his finest season to date with two wins and more than $3.5 million in earnings. “…actually, to already be in contention last group on Sunday and to finish 6th already is kind of ahead of the game, and my game doesn't feel far off,” said Mahan when asked to compare this year to last. “I don't feel like I need to search for a couple weeks for my technique and everything. So actually, it's not far off. I just need reps and I just need to keep going and keep swinging and get some rounds underneath me.”
While most players would look at a top ten in just their second start of the year as a sign of things really coming together Mahan says that under the hood, his engine is not really running as smoothly as he would like. As time wore on last week, even though his scoring was solid (except for the final day 73) he really felt the best part of his skill set was not as refined as it could be, leaving room to think he might be peaking just in time for his title defense. “I was hitting it worse as the days went on, which was surprising, which is pretty rare for me. I'm a pretty good ball striker.
Mahan says his inability to hit the ball the way he wanted did put pressure on others parts of his game but that happily his driving, wedge play, and putting exceed his expectations. “I was in the tournament for most of Sunday (at the Farmers Insurance Open), which was actually kind of nice.”
What should not be lost in this conversation is the fact that Mahan won with a game of similar sorts in Scottsdale in 2010. With 68 on day one and a front nine 38 to follow the next day Mahan thought he was headed to a miss cut late on Friday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. That all changed when he birdied four of this last eight holes for a back nine 32 – creating momentum that he carried into the weekend. A nicely matched set of 65’s allowed him to catch and pass rookie Rickie Fowler to win by a stroke at sixteen under par.
Fowler will be among those looking for revenge this week but he may have to pull it off in temperatures he is not accustomed to, being a Southern California native. Low temperatures will hover just above freezing this week with highs escalating only into the low 60’s, unusual for the tournament but something that had to be expected when it was repositioned on the schedule to a slightly earlier slot.
That being the case, look for the guys who can really bust it to be in the hunt as they will be the ones with length to burn even if the cold takes down their averages drives by a notch or two. Dustin Johnson, hot off a 3rd place tie at the Farmers Insurance Open, has to be considered a threat as does super-rookie Jhonnatan Vegas.
The sleepers have to be a trio of players with hot hands and lots of yardage to take on the seven par fours over 420 yards in length at the TPC of Scottsdale – last week’s winner Bubba Watson, along with Bob Hope playoff victim Gary Woodland, and Nick Watney – fresh off a Sunday 63 in La Jolla.
Waste Management Phoenix Open Summary
Dates: February 3-6, 2011
Where: TPC Scottsdale (71/7,216), Scottsdale, Arizona
FedExCup Points: 500
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Purse: $6,100,000; Winner’s Share: $1,098,000
This report provided by Canada's Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE9
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports
|
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty