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| Magnificent Mahan holds off Rory(2) https://sabusinesshub.co.za/webforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7651 |
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| Author: | fiona18 [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Magnificent Mahan holds off Rory(2) |
Mahan added that he rates McIlroy as "the best player in the world right now for sure." McIlroy applauded Mahan's performance, but at the same time conceded that his mentally-draining, morning semi-final against Westwood had sapped some of his Left Handed Ping G20 Irons and energy. "Maybe mentally and emotionally it did take a little bit out of me but it still doesn't take away from the fact that Hunter played very, very solid Left Handed Ping G20 Irons," the 22-year-old said. "Even though I threw a few birdies and an eagle at him on the back nine, he still responded well and held on. During the course of the week, he played the best Left Handed Ping G20 Irons and deserved to win." In hot sunny weather both players bogeyed the opening hole, McIlroy giving a hint of what was in store for when he lipped out from just four feet. The next two holes were halved with matching birdies and McIlroy was fortunate not to go one down at the par-four fourth where he had to take a penalty drop after his tee shot ended up in desert scrub. He bogeyed the hole, as did Mahan who had put his approach into a front greenside bunker. But then Mahan shifted up a gear and went in front for the first time with a conceded birdie at the sixth where he put one of his many solid iron shots just two feet from the pin. Some sloppy play by McIlroy cost him another hole at the seventh where, after seeing Mahan's approach from 135 yards pitch on and then spin back down the hill, McIlroy did exactly the same thing - and then failed to reach the green with his Left Handed Ping G20 Irons and missed a 10-foot putt for a double bogey to Mahan's bogey. The by now beleaguered Irishman got into more hot water at the par-five eighth, finding a bunker off the tee, failing to reach the green in three and then again lipping out with an eight-foot par putt to go three down. Mahan's brilliance and not McIlroy's sluggishness had everything to do with the American going four up. He almost holed out from the fairway with a 180-yard approach at the par-four 10th and was only two feet from the hole when McIlroy conceded it. The 22-year-old Ulsterman chipped in to eagle the par-five 11th and also birdied the par-four 14th to trim Mahan's lead to two-up and give his supporters some hope, but the lightly bearded American steeled himself and held him off over the next three holes to give the USA its second victory of the final day. |
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