The Golf Watch

"Don't bother playing then"

The Europeans sure do get fired up over any form of critique or downgrading of the Ryder Cup.  Hunter Mahan, who is a pretty reserved guy, told Golf Magazine that the Americans don't take the Ryder Cup seriously enough because of the lack of money.  He added that they are treated like "slaves." 

The one and only Ian Poulter responded earlier today at Firestone: (quotes are in no particular order from The Independent article)

Don't bother playing then.

If they don't want to treat it seriously, then we'll keep winning.  And that would be very nice.

If people like that don't want to take it seriously then that's up to them. But obviously he shouldn't play or shouldn't want to play. But I tell you what, there are a lot of other players out there who want his place.

It looks like Mahan will have to play his way onto this squad.

Mahan shoots 62 for third time in '07, ties course record at Barclays

Hunter Mahan fired a 9-under 62 earlier today at The Barclays, his third 62 of the '07 season, and has pulled within two strokes of third round leader Steve Stricker.  Mahan, a recent President's Cup captain's pick, had nine birdies and no bogeys on his scorecard.  He said at a press conference after his round, "I’m going to try and put that 62 behind me, and take all of that confidence that I gained today and just put that into tomorrow, and try and win the tournament."  Mahan's 62 ties a course record at Westchester Country Club that had not been equaled in 25 years.   

Glover, Mahan selected for American squad

Due to Woody Austin's second place finish at the PGA Championship, Lucas Glover (left) was knocked out of the tenth position in the President's Cup standings and his fate for next month's President's Cup was unknown.  But team captain Jack Nicklaus announced earlier today that the 27-year-old would be selected as a captain's pick for the President's Cup  next month at Royal Montreal.  In addition to Glover's selection, Nicklaus also picked Hunter Mahan (right).  Mahan won at the Travelers Championship in Hartford two months ago and has not finished worse than 22nd in his last eight tournaments.  Both Glover and Mahan will play in their first President's Cup. 

Mahan continues stellar play, co-leads with Sabbatini, Casey

For the third time in the past month and a half, Hunter Mahan has the first round lead in a tournament.  Mahan fired a 3-under 67 at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational to share the first round lead with Rory Sabbatini and Paul Casey.  Curt Byrum said the following about Hunter Mahan on the Sprint Post Game: "This guy is one of the best ball strikers on tour right now…he is driving the ball beautifully…and I think he just finally figured out, ‘hey, I’m one of the best players out here.’  And with that kind of confidence, he is playing great week in and week out."  Mahan has finished in the top-8 in his last four tournaments.  If he continues to play this well, he might not have to worry about being a captain's pick for the President's Cup. 

Mahan shoots a course record to take first-round lead at Canadian Open

Hunter Mahan, who recorded his first PGA Tour win at the Travelers Championship last month, fired a 9-under 62 on Thursday to take the first round lead at the Canadian Open.  Mahan's 62, which included two hole outs for eagle at the par-4 18th (189 yards) and par-4 9th (81 yards), marks a new course record at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Ontario.  "Yeah, it was crazy.  A lot of stuff I’ve never done before," said Mahan to Inga Hammond of The Golf Channel after his round.  The 25-year-old also had an eagle on the par-5 11th.   

Mahan outduels Williamson in playoff, captures first PGA Tour win

With experienced PGA Tour winners lurking close behind, Hunter Mahan and Jay Williamson shot rounds of 65 and 66 respectively, to force a playoff at the Travelers Championship, which Mahan won. It was the first PGA Tour win for Mahan, who birdied the 72nd hole and first playoff hole to capture the title.  “I played so good all day…I kept plugging away,” said Mahan to Peter Kostis of CBS after his round.  Mahan and Williamson were able to outlast Nick O'hern and Vijay Singh, who are both ranked in the top-25 in the world. “I was flabbergasted by the level of play in that final group," said Brandel Chamblee on the Sprint Post Game Show. 

Mahan leads after Round 1

Hunter Mahan, who was the runner-up to Ricky Barnes in the 2002 U.S. Amateur, fired an 8-under 62 Thursday and has the lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship.  Mahan had eight birdies and two bogeys on his round.  "I hit a ton of good golf shots today and got lucky," said Mahan, who turned professional in 2003.  The 25-year-old played well in the two tournaments leading up to the Travelers with a T-17 at the Stanford St. Jude Championship and a T-13 at the U.S. Open.  Mahan's best finish this year was a T-5 at the Shell Houston Open.