Hunter’s Now the Hunted After Barclays Win
- Dan Hauser
- 25 Aug, 2014
Hunter Mahan sank his bogey putt on the 18th hole yesterday and was immediately greeted by his wife Kandi and daughter Zoe. Mahan had just sunk a putt that gave him his first victory since 2012 and enjoyed a nice surprise when he turned around.
The visit on the 18th green was not a planned one for the Mahan family. Hunter was expecting to meet his wife and daughter in Boston Sunday night, the spot of the second FedEx Cup playoff event. While Mahan was making his push late in the round on Sunday though, Kandi knew that her and Zoe needed to change their travel plans to be there in person to see it. So they got on a plane in their home town of Odessa, Texas and made it to the course just in time to see Hunter birdie 15, 16, and 17 to take a commanding two shot lead as he headed to the 18th tee.
It was also all too fitting that Zoe and Kandi were there to see Hunter win given the circumstances that last brought the Mahan family into the news.
Last year at the RBC Canadian Open, Mahan held the 36 hole lead while his wife was back in Texas and pregnant. Less than an hour before his third round tee time, Hunter received a call saying that Kandi had gone into labor several weeks early. Not thinking twice, Mahan immediately withdrew from the tournament, got on a plane, and got home in time to watch the birth of Zoe. This time it was Kandi and Zoe getting on a plane last minute to watch dad win the first event of the 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs.
Mahan fought off a large group of golfers Sunday to capture the win as it was another tournament with a jam packed leader board throughout the final round.
Stuart Appleby birdied five of his first six holes but came up two shots short. Same went for Cameron Tringale who on his 27th birthday made a back nine push with birdies on 15, 16, and 17. 54-hole co-leaders Jason Day and Jim Furyk battled all the way but their efforts fell a few strokes short. Ernie Els at one point held the lead in the clubhouse at 11-under before Mahan went on his birdie run on the back nine.
When all was said and done Hunter became the hunted as his win vaulted him to the top spot in the FedEx Cup point standings, all but assuring him that he will enter the Tour Championship at East Lake in the top 5 in points and controlling his own destiny.
In addition, after yesterday’s win, the Mahan’s might need to make another impromptu trip to Scotland next month. That’s because the win makes quite the case for Hunter to be selected as one of the three captains picks for the Ryder Cup next month.
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.
