John Mahaffey

Last updated
John Mahaffey
Personal information
Full nameJohn Drayton Mahaffey Jr.
Born (1948-05-09) May 9, 1948 (age 75)
Kerrville, Texas
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight160 lb (73 kg; 11 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence The Woodlands, Texas
Career
College University of Houston
Turned professional1971
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins16
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour10
PGA Tour Champions1
Other5
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters Tournament T8: 1981
PGA Championship Won: 1978
U.S. Open 2nd: 1975
The Open Championship T10: 1975

John Drayton Mahaffey Jr. (born May 9, 1948) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including 10 PGA Tour events.

Contents

Early life

Mahaffey was born in Kerrville, Texas. He attended the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Mahaffey graduated in 1970 with a degree in psychology.

Professional career

He turned pro in 1971. Mahaffey came close to winning back to back U.S. Opens. In 1975, he lost in a playoff to Lou Graham at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. The following year Mahaffey had a two-shot lead after 54 holes at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia before shooting a final round 73 and finishing T-4.

In 1978, he won the PGA Championship. It was held at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Mahaffey became the best comeback winner in PGA history after trailing Tom Watson by seven strokes with 14 holes to play. Ultimately, the tournament came down to a three-player playoff – Mahaffey, Watson and Jerry Pate. All three players made par on the first playoff hole. The drama ended on the second playoff hole when Pate missed the green, Watson missed a 30-foot birdie attempt and Mahaffey made his 12-foot birdie putt for the Championship. [1] Later in the year he also won the World Cup individual and team event where he was paired with Andy North in 1978.

Mahaffey played on the 1979 Ryder Cup team the following year.

Later in his career, he began work as an announcer on Golf Channel telecasts of the PGA Tour Champions.

Personal life

Mahaffey lives near Houston at The Woodlands in his home state of Texas. His family includes wife Elizabeth, and two children.[ citation needed ]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (16)

PGA Tour wins (10)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Players Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (8)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Oct 28, 1973 Sahara Invitational −13 (68-66-69-68=271)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dave Eichelberger
2Aug 6, 1978 PGA Championship −8 (75-67-68-66=276)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Pate, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson
3Aug 13, 1978 American Optical Classic −14 (71-65-67-67=270)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Raymond Floyd, Flag of the United States.svg Gil Morgan
4Jan 14, 1979 Bob Hope Desert Classic −17 (66-66-71-71-69=343)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Lee Trevino
5Jun 1, 1980 Kemper Open −5 (68-72-67-68=275)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Craig Stadler
6July 26, 1981 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic −8 (72-67-70-67=276)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Andy North
7Jan 15, 1984 Bob Hope Classic (2)−20 (66-70-70-68-66=340)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jim Simons
8Sep 29, 1985 Texas Open −12 (68-68-65-67=268)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jodie Mudd
9Mar 30, 1986 Tournament Players Championship −13 (69-70-65-71=275)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Larry Mize
10Aug 6, 1989 Federal Express St. Jude Classic −12 (70-71-66-65=272)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gilder, Flag of the United States.svg Hubert Green,
Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer, Flag of the United States.svg Bob Tway

PGA Tour playoff record (3–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1975 U.S. Open Flag of the United States.svg Lou Graham Lost 18-hole playoff;
Graham: E (71),
Mahaffey: +2 (73)
2 1978 PGA Championship Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Pate, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson Won with birdie on second extra hole
3 1984 Bob Hope Desert Classic Flag of the United States.svg Jim Simons Won with par on second extra hole
4 1985 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic Flag of the United States.svg Mark Wiebe Lost to birdie on first extra hole
51985 Texas Open Flag of the United States.svg Jodie Mudd Won with par on second extra hole

Other wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1Dec 3, 1978 World Cup
(with Flag of the United States.svg Andy North)		−12 (141-144-138-141=564)10 strokesFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia − Wayne Grady and Greg Norman
2Dec 3, 1978 World Cup Individual Trophy −7 (69-72-69-71=281)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Andy North
3Nov 11, 1979 World Cup (2)
(with Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin)		−1 (141-141-152-141=575)5 strokesFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland − Ken Brown and Sandy Lyle
4Jan 4, 1981 Spalding Invitational −9 (69-69-69-72=279)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Buddy Allin
5Dec 12, 1982 JCPenney Mixed Team Classic
(with Flag of the United States.svg JoAnne Carner)		−20 (68-67-63-70=268)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Jay Haas and Flag of the United States.svg Hollis Stacy

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runners-up
1Jun 20, 1999 Southwestern Bell Dominion −12 (67-67-70=204)Playoff Flag of Spain.svg José María Cañizares, Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Fleisher

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1999 Southwestern Bell Dominion Flag of Spain.svg José María Cañizares, Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Fleisher Won with birdie on second extra hole
Fleisher eliminated by birdie on first hole
2 2002 FleetBoston Classic Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gilder Lost to birdie on third extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
1978 PGA Championship 7 shot deficit−8 (75-67-68-66=276)Playoff1 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Pate, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson

1Defeated Pate and Watson with a birdie on the second extra hole.

Results timeline

Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Masters Tournament CUTCUTT39
U.S. Open T36 LACUTT29T122T4T36
The Open Championship T44T10
PGA Championship T30T9T28WD1T51
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters Tournament T44T8CUTT40CUTT14T42T35
U.S. Open T28CUTT22T34T30T39CUTT24T46
The Open Championship T32T30
PGA Championship T15CUTT42CUTT20T23CUTT65T15CUT
Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997
Masters Tournament T42
U.S. Open CUTCUTCUTCUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship T40CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTWD
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 000012128
U.S. Open 0102252013
The Open Championship 00001144
PGA Championship 1001262312
Totals11036145937

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1986 Tournament Players Championship 4 shot deficit−13 (69-70-65-71=275)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Larry Mize

Results timeline

Tournament19741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996
The Players Championship T19T11T34T12T5T19T35T3T10CUT1T32T27T45CUTCUTT9CUTT27T55CUT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "PGA Championship History – 1978: Never count a golfer out". PGA of America. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
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