John Mahaffey
{{short description|American professional golfer (born 1948)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name = John Mahaffey
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| fullname = John Drayton Mahaffey Jr.
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|5|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Kerrville, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| weight = {{convert|160|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
| nationality = {{USA}}
| residence = The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| college = University of Houston
| yearpro = 1971
| retired =
| tour =
| extour = PGA Tour
Champions Tour
| prowins = 16
| pgawins = 10
| champwins = 1
| otherwins = 5
| majorwins = 1
| masters = T8: 1981
| usopen = 2nd: 1975
| open = T10: 1975
| pga = Won: 1978
| wghofid =
| wghofyear =
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}}
John Drayton Mahaffey Jr. (born May 9, 1948) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including 10 PGA Tour events.
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2004/history_1978.html |title=PGA Championship History – 1978: Never count a golfer out |publisher=PGA of America |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=August 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813115433/http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2004/history_1978.html |url-status=dead }} 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|date=July 2020}}
Amateur wins
- 1970 NCAA Championship
Professional wins (16)
=PGA Tour wins (10)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Major championships (1) |
| style="background:#f2ecce;"
| Players Championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour (8) |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|Oct 28, 1973 |−13 (68-66-69-68=271) |3 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Eichelberger |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;
|align=center|2 |align=right|Aug 6, 1978 |−8 (75-67-68-66=276) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Pate, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Watson |
| align=center|3
|align=right|Aug 13, 1978 |−14 (71-65-67-67=270) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Raymond Floyd, {{flagicon|USA}} Gil Morgan |
| align=center|4
|align=right|Jan 14, 1979 |−17 (66-66-71-71-69=343) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Lee Trevino |
| align=center|5
|align=right|Jun 1, 1980 |−5 (68-72-67-68=275) |3 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Craig Stadler |
| align=center|6
|align=right|July 26, 1981 |−8 (72-67-70-67=276) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Andy North |
| align=center|7
|align=right|Jan 15, 1984 |Bob Hope Classic (2) |−20 (66-70-70-68-66=340) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Simons |
| align=center|8
|align=right|Sep 29, 1985 |−12 (68-68-65-67=268) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Jodie Mudd |
| style="background:#f2ecce;"
|align=center|9 |align=right|Mar 30, 1986 |Tournament Players Championship |−13 (69-70-65-71=275) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Mize |
| align=center|10
|align=right|Aug 6, 1989 |Federal Express St. Jude Classic |−12 (70-71-66-65=272) |3 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Gilder, {{flagicon|USA}} Hubert Green, |
PGA Tour playoff record (3–2)
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|1 |1975 |{{flagicon|USA}} Lou Graham |Lost 18-hole playoff; |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|2 |1978 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Pate, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Watson |Won with birdie on second extra hole |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3 |1984 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Simons |Won with par on second extra hole |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|4 |1985 |{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Wiebe |Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|5 |1985 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jodie Mudd |Won with par on second extra hole |
=Other wins (5)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of !Runner(s)-up |
| align=center|1
|align=right|Dec 3, 1978 |World Cup |−12 (141-144-138-141=564) |10 strokes |{{AUS}} − Wayne Grady and Greg Norman |
| align=center|2
|align=right|Dec 3, 1978 |−7 (69-72-69-71=281) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Andy North |
| align=center|3
|align=right|Nov 11, 1979 |World Cup (2) |−1 (141-141-152-141=575) |5 strokes |{{SCO}} − Ken Brown and Sandy Lyle |
| align=center|4
|align=right|Jan 4, 1981 |−9 (69-69-69-72=279) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Allin |
| align=center|5
|align=right|Dec 12, 1982 |JCPenney Mixed Team Classic |−20 (68-67-63-70=268) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Haas and {{flagicon|USA}} Hollis Stacy |
=Senior PGA Tour wins (1)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No. !Date !Tournament !Winning score !Margin of !Runners-up |
| align=center|1
|align=right|Jun 20, 1999 |−12 (67-67-70=204) |Playoff |{{flagicon|ESP}} José María Cañizares, {{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Fleisher |
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1 |1999 |{{flagicon|ESP}} José María Cañizares, {{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Fleisher |Won with birdie on second extra hole |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2 |2002 |{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Gilder |Lost to birdie on third extra hole |
Major championships
=Wins (1)=
| class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runners-up | |||||
| style="background:#D8BFD8;"
| 1978 | PGA Championship | 7 shot deficit | −8 (75-67-68-66=276) | Playoff1 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Pate, {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Watson |
1Defeated Pate and Watson with a birdie on the second extra hole.
=Results timeline=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !1970 !1971 !1972 !1973 !1974 !1975 !1976 !1977 !1978 !1979 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |CUT |T39 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|T36 LA |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |T29 |T12 |style="background:yellow;"|2 |style="background:yellow;"|T4 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T36 |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T44 |style="background:yellow;"|T10 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T30 |style="background:yellow;"|T9 |T28 |WD |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:lime;"|1 |T51 |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !1980 !1981 !1982 !1983 !1984 !1985 !1986 !1987 !1988 !1989 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|T44 |style="background:yellow;"|T8 |CUT |T40 |CUT |T14 |T42 |T35 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|T28 |CUT |T22 |T34 |T30 |T39 |CUT |T24 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T46 |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|T32 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T30 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|T15 |CUT |T42 |CUT |T20 |T23 |CUT |T65 |T15 |CUT |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !1990 !1991 !1992 !1993 !1994 !1995 !1996 !1997 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|T42 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |CUT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|T40 |CUT |CUT |CUT |CUT |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |WD |
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
=Summary=
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made | ||||||||
| align=left|Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 |
| align=left|U.S. Open | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 13 |
| align=left|The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| align=left|PGA Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 12 |
| Totals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 59 | 37 |
|---|
- Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1978 PGA – 1981 Masters)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1975 U.S. Open – 1975 Open Championship)
The Players Championship
=Wins (1)=
| class="wikitable"
!Year!!Championship!!54 holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner-up | |||||
| style="background:#f2ecce;"
| 1986 | Tournament Players Championship | 4 shot deficit | −13 (69-70-65-71=275) | 1 stroke | {{flagicon|USA}} Larry Mize |
=Results timeline=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !1974 !1975 !1976 !1977 !1978 !1979 !1980 !1981 !1982 !1983 !1984 !1985 !1986 !1987 !1988 !1989 !1990 !1991 !1992 !1993 !1994 !1995 !1996 |
| align=left|The Players Championship
|T19 |T11 |T34 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T12 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:yellow;"|T5 |T19 |T35 |style="background:yellow;"|T3 |style="background:yellow;"|T10 |CUT |style="background:lime;"|1 |T32 |T27 |T45 |CUT |CUT |style="background:yellow;"|T9 |CUT |T27 |T55 |CUT |
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
U.S. national team appearances
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{PGATour player|01725}}
- {{OWGR|130}}
{{US PGA Champions}}
{{1979 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{Players Championship champions}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahaffey, John}}
Category:American male golfers
Category:Houston Cougars men's golfers
Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers
Category:Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
Category:Winners of men's major golf championships
Category:American golf commentators