AKRON, Ohio — Hunter Mahan took a big step toward joining the elite in golf Sunday, winning his first World Golf Championship title to lock up a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Four shots behind to start the final round at Firestone, Mahan ran off five birdies on the front nine to take the lead, then had three clutch par saves down the stretch to finish off a 6-under-par 64 and a two-shot victory over Ryan Palmer.
It was the second victory this year for Mahan, and the $1.4 million he earned moved him to No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings with only the PGA Championship remaining before the top eight Americans qualifying are determined.
Mahan shot a 30 on the front nine to surge past Sean O’Hair, then scrambled his way to victory. Mahan saved par with a 15-foot putt on the 15th, made a tough par from the front of the 16th green after hitting his second shot into a flower bed, then saved his biggest fist pump for an 8-foot par putt on the 17th hole.
Mahan, who shot 65 in the final round to win the Phoenix Open in February, finished at 12-under 268. He became the third American with multiple victories on the PGA Tour this year, and likely will move to a career-best No. 12 in the world.
The Ryder Cup was a big bonus.
“That was my goal at the beginning of the year, to make the team on my own,” Mahan said.
Retief Goosen, the 36-hole leader until a triple bogey on the opening hole Saturday, closed with a 65 and tied for third with Bo Van Pelt, who shot a 67. O’Hair shot 71 and wound up alone in fifth.
Frost’s 61 seals the deal
BLAINE, Minn. — David Frost jumped out fast with a brilliant front nine and finished with an 11-under 61 and a record-setting victory at the 3M Championship.
It was the first career Champions Tour win for Frost, whose 25-under 191 was two shots better than the previous tournament scoring record set by R.W. Eaks in 2008.
Mark Calcavecchia, tied with Frost for the lead after 36 holes, shot a 4-under 68 and finished second, seven shots behind.
Lunde wins by one
VERONA, N.Y. — Bill Lunde shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 17-under 271, holding off J.J. Henry by one stroke to win the Turning Stone Resort Championship.
The win was the first on the PGA Tour for Lunde, who vaulted into the lead with six birdies on the front nine and then played even par.
Footnotes.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who has not won a tournament in nearly two years, said he plans to take a two-month break after the PGA Championship this week.
• Europe captain Colin Montgomerie is considering giving a Ryder Cup wild card to Bernhard Langer, even though the German is now on the Champions Tour.
The Associated Press
