Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Travelers Championship Magazine - Index

28 This is the new era.
After all, it isn’t just about winning the
Travelers Championship. It’s about his first
time in the event as an amateur, too.
In case you didn’t know, Mahan’s victory was the first
by an American Junior Golf Association Player of
the Year since Connecticut’s PGA TOUR event
began awarding sponsor exemptions to that group
in 1995.
It’s a long way, of course, from his 2000 debut to
last year’s playoff victory over Jay Williamson,
Mahan said.
“The first time I played in the Travelers I played two
rounds and missed the cut by one (stroke),” said the
26-year-old Plano, Texas resident who would also
finish second in 2006.
“Everything was different then. I played with guys
I’d watched on TV. It was like a dream come true.
It was fun and overwhelming. As soon as I’d
finish playing one (TOUR) event, I wanted to do it
every week.”
Under the watchful eye of revered Board of
Directors member Ted May, the Travelers
Championship saw long-range benefits of giving
the AJGA Player of the Year a coveted slot in the
tournament.
“Canon was our sponsor at the time,” said May,
PHOTOS: (TOP) HUNTER MAHAN HITS
FROM A FAIRWAY BUNKER ON #17 DURING
THE FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND.
(RIGHT) MAHAN MAKES A BIRDIE ON #18
TO FORCE A PLAYOFF DURING THE FOURTH
AND FINAL ROUND.
thinking back to 1995, “and we started the program
with the AJGA Player of the Year. We developed a
close working relationship with the AJGA. They had
all the top junior golfers in the country at the time.
All those players have represented the AJGA well
and have been terrific competitors. Playing at the
Travelers has allowed them to build an experience.
And, frankly, we looked at it as an investment in
future (Travelers) years.”
How savvy a move would that turn out to be for the
championship? In hindsight, it was heaven sent.
Since 1995, PGA TOUR members such as Robert
Floyd, Joel Kribel, Ryuji Imada and Charles Howell III
have enjoyed amateur sponsor exemptions at TPC
River Highlands.
“It’s been phenomenal to see the maturity that guys
like Hunter have gained from their experience,” said
May of the growth of the former Oklahoma State
University star into a part of Travelers history.
“Most of them have gone on to good college
careers and to have Hunter come back and win
the event and think back to that first time, it is
pretty special.”
Before Mahan could add his name to the
tournament’s roll of champions that includes Billy
Casper, Lee Trevino, Dave Stockton, Hubert Green,