John Mahaffey


John Drayton Mahaffey Jr. 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. His family includes wife Elizabeth, and two children.

Amateur wins

PGA Tour wins (10)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Oct 28, 1973Sahara Invitational−13 3 strokes

Other wins (5)

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

Senior PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11999Southwestern Bell Dominion

Major championships

Wins (1)

1Defeated Pate and Watson with a birdie on the second extra hole.

Results timeline

Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters TournamentT44T8CUTT40CUTT14T42T35
U.S. OpenT28CUTT22T34T30T39CUTT24T46
The Open ChampionshipT32T30
PGA ChampionshipT15CUTT42CUTT20T23CUTT65T15CUT

Tournament19901991199219931994199519961997
Masters TournamentT42
U.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTCUT
The Open Championship
PGA ChampionshipT40CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTWD

LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

  • Most consecutive cuts made – 8
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2

    The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Results timeline

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place.

U.S. national team appearances

Professional
  • Ryder Cup: 1979
  • World Cup: 1978, 1979
  • Nissan Cup: 1986