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 In 1971, Mahaffey turned pro. He came close to winning back-to-back U.S. Opens. At the 1975 U.S. Open he lost in a playoff to Lou Graham at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. The following year, at the 1976 U.S. Open, 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. 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.
Amateur wins 1970 NCAA Championship
Professional wins (16) PGA Tour wins (10) Legend Major championships (1) Players Championships (1) Other PGA Tour (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Oct 28, 1973Sahara Invitational−13 (68-66-69-68=271)3 strokes Dave Eichelberger2Aug 6, 1978PGA Championship−8 (75-67-68-66=276)Playoff Jerry Pate, Tom Watson 3Aug 13, 1978American Optical Classic−14 (71-65-67-67=270)2 strokes Raymond Floyd, Gil Morgan4Jan 14, 1979Bob Hope Desert Classic−17 (66-66-71-71-69=343)1 stroke Lee Trevino5Jun 1, 1980Kemper Open−5 (68-72-67-68=275)3 strokes Craig Stadler6July 26, 1981Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic−8 (72-67-70-67=276)2 strokes Andy North7Jan 15, 1984Bob Hope Classic (2)−20 (66-70-70-68-66=340)Playoff Jim Simons8Sep 29, 1985Texas Open−12 (68-68-65-67=268)Playoff Jodie Mudd9Mar 30, 1986Tournament Players Championship−13 (69-70-65-71=275)1 stroke Larry Mize10Aug 6, 1989Federal Express St. Jude Classic−12 (70-71-66-65=272)3 strokes Bob Gilder, Hubert Green, Bernhard Langer, Bob Tway
PGA Tour playoff record (3–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11975U.S. Open Lou GrahamLost 18-hole playoff;Graham: E (71),Mahaffey: +2 (73) 21978PGA Championship Jerry Pate, Tom WatsonWon with birdie on second extra hole31984Bob Hope Desert Classic Jim SimonsWon with par on second extra hole41985 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic Mark WiebeLost to birdie on first extra hole51985 Texas Open Jodie MuddWon with par on second extra hole
Other wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Dec 3, 1978World Cup(with Andy North)−12 (141-144-138-141=564)10 strokes − Wayne Grady and Greg Norman2Dec 3, 1978World Cup Individual Trophy−7 (69-72-69-71=281)2 strokes Andy North3Nov 11, 1979World Cup (2)(with Hale Irwin)−1 (141-141-152-141=575)5 strokes − Ken Brown and Sandy Lyle4Jan 4, 1981Spalding Invitational−9 (69-69-69-72=279)1 stroke Buddy Allin5Dec 12, 1982JCPenney Mixed Team Classic(with JoAnne Carner)−20 (68-67-63-70=268)1 stroke Jay Haas and Hollis Stacy
Senior PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 20, 1999Southwestern Bell Dominion−12 (67-67-70=204)Playoff José María Cañizares, Bruce Fleisher
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11999 Southwestern Bell Dominion José María Cañizares, Bruce FleisherWon with birdie on second extra holeFleisher eliminated by birdie on first hole 22002 FleetBoston Classic Bob GilderLost 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 Jerry Pate, Tom Watson 1Defeated Pate and Watson with a birdie on the second extra hole.
Results timeline Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTCUTT39U.S. OpenT36 LACUTT29T122T4T36The Open ChampionshipT44T10PGA ChampionshipT30T9T28WD1T51
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentT44T8CUTT40CUTT14T42T35U.S. OpenT28CUTT22T34T30T39CUTT24T46The Open ChampionshipT32T30PGA ChampionshipT15CUTT42CUTT20T23CUTT65T15CUT
Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997Masters TournamentT42U.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT40CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTWD
LA = Low amateur CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = Withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 2 12 8U.S. Open 0 1 0 2 2 5 20 13The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 4PGA Championship 1 0 0 1 2 6 23 12Totals 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) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1986 Tournament Players Championship 4 shot deficit −13 (69-70-65-71=275) 1 stroke Larry Mize
Results timeline Tournament19741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996The Players ChampionshipT19T11T34T12T5T19T35T3T10CUT1T32T27T45CUTCUTT9CUTT27T55CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place.
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1979 (winners) World Cup: 1978 (winners, individual winner), 1979 (winners) Nissan Cup: 1986
See also 1971 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of men's major championships winning golfers
References
External links