Mahan charges to Phoenix Open success

Hunter Mahan claimed only the second PGA Tour title of his career when he came from four strokes back to claim a victory in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. It was just reward for Mahan after a string of consistent tournament appearances.

The former Oklahoma State golfer got the better of a tussle with fellow Oklahoma Statesman Rickie Fowler by one shot to collect the $1.08million first prize. Mahan carded an eagle and two birdies during a late charge in the final round to card a second consecutive bogey-free round of 65 and add to his only other PGA Tour win – the 2007 Travelers Championship.

Mahan birdied the sixth and ninth holes to reach the turn at 12-under par but was still some way off the lead as he began the homeward stretch. Mahan’s charge really began on the fifteenth where, just as YE Yang had found trouble on the 17th, Mahan’s putt from eight feet for an eagle fell into the hole to put him one behind the Korean. Another birdie on the 14th put Mahan into a share of the lead and then he took the lead outright with another on the 16th before pars on the final two holes.

From there it was a case of wait-and-see as Fowler was still out on the course and in a position to overhaul the 2008 Ryder Cup player. Tour rookie Fowler, who was seeking his first win couldn’t find the necessary birdies however, and carded a 68 to finish in his second runner up spot of his short pro career with US PGA champion YE Yang back in third. Fowler was bidding to become the youngest winner of a Tour event since Tiger Woods in 1996.

YE Yang had led the tournament after a blistering final round catapulted the Korean up the leaderboard; but his challenge came unstuck after an attempt to drive the green at the 17th hole was hooked into the greenside lake and Yang failed to get up-and-down for par. A par at the last gave the Korean a round of 65 and a 14-under total.

The putts wouldn’t drop for overnight leader Brandt Snedeker who fell away dramatically as he stumbled to a final round 78 as Charles Howell III, Mathew Goggin and Chris Couch all closed with three-under 68s to share fourth place at 13-under-par 271.

Camilo Villegas, who had equalled the course record on his opening round and tied the lead at half-way finished at eleven-under par with five other players following a closing 71 while our pick, JB Holmes, never threatened the top of the leaderboard and eventually finished seven-under par.