Mahan edges out Aussie pair in Barclays win

Hunter Mahan claimed his first PGA Tour victory in two years at The Barclays and, as a result, has almost certainly played his way onto the American team for the Ryder Cup next month.

Mahan finished at 14-under 270, saving his best round for last, shooting a 65 on Sunday which included five birdies on back nine. This was Mahan’s first PGA Tour win since claiming the Shell Houston Open in 2012, the same year he narrowly missed out on making the Ryder Cup team, and was passed over as a captain’s pick.

Hunter Mahan celebrates with his wife Kandi, daughter Zoe and the tournament trophy after winning The Barclays. PHOTO: Getty Images

The two-stroke victory at the Barlcays ensures Mahan’s streak of making the Tour Championships continues – he has made every Tour Championship since the inception of the Fed Ex Cup in 2007.

With the victory, Mahan now sits atop the FedEx Cup leaderboard, jumping from No. 62 to No.1, passing Open and PGA championship winner, Rory McIlroy, who finished the Barclays with a 70, tied for 22nd.

Mahan said he felt like his swing was in good order coming into The Barclays and be believed the course would suit his game.

“I felt like the game was in good order, and this golf course, that I like,” Mahan said. “It suits my game, and you have to get it to the fairways and to the greens. You can't play from the rough.

“I just felt good about kind of how I was playing going into this week and just stayed calm in my head and just relax … my swing and my game and just let everything happen, and it did. I obviously made some huge putts coming down the stretch too.

“This means a lot and this is kind of the biggest win in the sense of what comes with it, having a chance to win the FedEx Cup. A lot has changed from Saturday and Sunday. That's for sure.”

Mahan admitted he has not been in the running for a Ryder Cup spot but with injuries taking their toll on some players, he might have played his way into the team with this victory.

“I've been thinking about it (Ryder Cup) for a few weeks. Just the unfortunate things that have happened to the guys on the team, seems like it's let a lot of guys in with a chance,” Mahan said. “I don't know who he's (captain Tom Watson) thinking about or what his process is, but I need a strong couple weeks, a strong major and a strong couple of playoff events, to have a chance.

“Obviously a win, it helps a lot. Obviously playing well at the PGA helped a lot.  So obviously I have no idea what he's thinking or if he has any sort of strategy.

“But I think a win is a good step in the right direction (to making the team).”

It was a strong tournament for Aussie golfers Jason Day and Stuart Appleby who tied for 2nd along with American Cameron Tringale. All three finished with a 12-under 272, two strokes behind Mahan. Adam Scott, who had a share of the lead with Tringale after two rounds with a run of four straight birdies on Friday for a six-under 65, slipped back to finish tied for 15th at seven under.

Jason Day reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 9th hole during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images

Day's second place finish catapulted him to No.7 in the FedEx Cup standings, up from No.34.

Phil Mickelson had an eventful weekend at the Barclays, twice having to wade through the gallery when his ball landed in the hospitality area on the 5th hole, on both Friday and Saturday. On Friday, his shot detoured and bounced into the grandstand, ending up behind a row of seats on the carpet in the hospitality area. Rather than choosing to take a drop, Mickelson chose to play it as it lied, needing to move chairs in the process to clear a path, taking his shot surrounded by spectators.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs move to their second leg with the top 100 players eligible to compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. Geoff Ogilvy earned the 100th spot, but it wasn’t in his hands. Ogilvy missed the cut, and his chances came down to Brendon Todd, who made a 15-foot par putt on the last hole to allow Ogilvy to advance by two points. If Todd had missed the putt, Troy Merritt would have been at No.100 by about half a point.

The Deutsche Bank Championship gets underway on Friday.

- Lukas Raschilla

 LEADERBOARD

1. Hunter Mahan (US)    66-71-68-65–270

T2. Stuart Appleby (Vic)    73-66-68-65–272

T2. Jason Day (Qld)    72-64-68-68–272

T2. Cameron Tringale (US)   66-68-72-66–272

T5. Ernie Els (RSA)    68-68-71-66–266

ALSO:

T15. Adam Scott (Qld)    69-65-75-68–277

T22. John Senden (Qld)    68-71-74-66–279

* For the full leaderboard, click here