Mackenzie Hughes Claims First PGA Tour Title at RSM Classic
11/21/2016 9:45:00 AM | Men's Golf
SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Mackenzie Hughes drilled an 18-foot putt from just off of the green to save par on the third playoff hole at The RSM Classic, then claimed his first PGA Tour victory as he watched all three competitors miss from at least 10 feet closer to the 17th hole of Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia.
With the win, the 2012 Kent State graduate and PGA Tour rookie earned a $1.08-million paycheck, a three-year Tour exemption and invitations to The Masters, The PGA Championship, and The Players Championship. The victory came in just the ninth PGA Tour start for Hughes, who opened the week ranked 287th in the world.
Just before darkness postponed play on Sunday, Hughes made a 10-foot par save at the second playoff hole to stay alive in a playoff that had started with five competitors all finishing regulation at 17-under par. When play resumed Monday at 8 a.m., all four remaining players missed the green at the 192-yard, par-three 17th. Hughes was the only player not on the green with his second shot, leaving his chip on the collar and setting the stage for a slick, downhill 18-footer for par.
"As soon as I hit it, I knew it was on a good line," Hughes told The Golf Channel. "I gave it some pace because I knew if I didn't make it, I was probably going to be out (of the playoff). About a foot from the hole I knew it was right in the heart, and it was such a good feeling to see it go in."
The putt placed the pressure back on Carmilo Villegas, Henrik Norlander, and Blayne Barber, who all missed from inside 8 feet.
Hughes handled pressure all week long during his wire-to-wire victory, battling back from a triple bogey in round three with a late birdie barrage that kept him atop the leaderboard, then righting the ship in his final round after missing the green on each of his first four holes.
"I texted Mac on Saturday night after the third round and said 'what a great finish. You have learned to be a very patient player. I'm happy for you," said Kent State Men's Golf Coach Herb Page. "He texted back and said 'I have become more patient. I'm going to need that tomorrow."
Hughes was a two-time Academic All-American at Kent State, earning a degree in business administration while helping the Golden Flashes men's golf team finish fifth in the nation at the NCAA Championship in his senior season.
"Mackenzie has all of those championship characteristics that don't necessarily have anything to do with talent," said Page. "That's where he is miles ahead. Those characteristics used to be weaknesses for him, but now his resilience and toughness are massive strengths in his overall golf game.
"Mackenzie is such a quality guy and a great role model for players out there striving to do what he has just done, and certainly to his colleagues out there professionally who are Kent State alumni and to our team as it exists right now. Our players here got out of the weight room not long after he won this morning, and they have to be saying this is possible for us. Kent State University now has multiple PGA Tour winners."
Hughes, who is a native of Dundas, Ontario, also became the first Canadian to win on the PGA Tour since 2014. His former teammate at Kent State and fellow Canadian Taylor Pendrith drove four hours Monday morning to be at the Sea Island Golf Club in time for today's 8 a.m. start and witness Hughes' win.
