Q & A
Question:
Hunter, I met you today at TP. You signed a ball and hat for me. I just wanted to tell you, “I like how you golf”. I am your fan. Nicholas age 7 (San Diego)
Answer:
Thanks Nicholas! Hope you had fun. Thanks for coming out!
Question:
How did the environment of the Ryder Cup differ from that of a normal tournament?
Answer:
There was just more crazy energy. There’s always pressure in any tournament you play, but like I said, it’s so definitive on one side or the other. When you play a major, there are a ton of guys trying to win. You don’t feel like the fans are cheering for anyone; they just want to see good shots. It was nothing I’ve ever seen or felt before. It’s just different. It’s hard to describe to someone how it’s different from a major, but it is. You’ve got teammates and wives and captains and fans completely cheering against you. But it was a great feeling. That’s what the Ryder Cup is all about. They had a home-field advantage. That’s what helped us succeed in ’08 and that’s what helped them succeed this year.
Question:
What do you do off of the course during tournament weeks?
Answer:
It depends on the city, but as a big basketball fan I like to take in a game anytime I can. At the Northern Trust Open in L.A. I caught a Lakers game. During baseball season I always try to catch a game in cities with teams. The worst thing you can do is sit around and think about your round. You have to give your mind a rest.
Updates
Mon, Nov 21st 2011, 15:19
Presidents Cup Recap
The 9th Presidents Cup took place from November 17th- 20th, 2011 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, marking the second time the course has hosted the competition. The format included two foursome competitions, two four-ball competitions and singles matches.
For the first three days of competition, Hunter Mahan was paired with David Toms and the American pair emerged with a record of 2-1. With a convincing 6&5 victory over Kyung-Tae Kim and Y.E. Yang in Thursday Foursomes and a 5&4 win over Goosen/Schwartzel in Saturday Foursomes, which included a hole-out by Mahan on the par-4 6th for eagle, Mahan and Toms proved a formidable pair.
Captain Fred Couples opted to pair Hunter with Bill Haas for the afternoon Four-ball competition on Saturday. Though the pair faced strong competition in Australian natives, Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day, Hunter would hold off the hometown favorites with a walk-off 20-foot birdie putt to halve the hole and secure a 2&1 victory.
The International team was faced with a 4-point deficit to begin the fourth and final day of singles matches. Hunter again faced Jason Day and with his impressive maneuvering around Royal Melbourne, prevailed with a 5&3 victory. Mahan’s early point on the board led the way for his fellow countrymen, who would seize victory in five of the last seven matches.
The United States Team captured their 4th straight Presidents Cup with a final score of 19-15. Mahan added four points to the overall American total, the second most for any individual American. He went undefeated in foursome play and was 4-1-0 overall. Hunter’s breakthrough performance at the 2011 Presidents Cup solidified his place as one of the top young talents in golf and a stalwart in team competitions.
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Hunter’s Caddie, John Wood, gives you the inside scoop on life in the PGA. Find tips, recommendations, and insider info usually reserved for tour pros right here at the Caddie’s Corner.
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