Feels Like Home; Mallinger and Pebble Beach
John Charles Mallinger, a professional American golfer, has recently claimed a victory at the Pebble Beach Invitational. The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational is a non-tour professional golf tournament. The event took place for the first time in 1972
and since then professional golfers from a number of tours like the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, compete in the tournament. Mark David Brooks, an American golfer with seven victories on the PGA Tour, claimed the win at the tournament
last year and this year Mallinger emerged victorious.
Mallinger’s current victory is another in the streak of many as the previous year has been largely fruitful for his golfing career. His successful year in 2009 included securing the 3rd position in the “Fifth Major” at The Players Championship
and 2nd position at the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee. He is also currently a member of the PGA Tour. However, before playing the PGA Tour, he won two events at the NGA Hooters Tour; a developmental men’s golf tour in the U.S.
Mallinger, who was fairly underrated in the golfing world a few years ago, has recently made a significant place in the arena due to his current victory. It has dubbed him one of the best U.S. professional golfers of the modern era. Earning 3rd
place finishes each time before 2008 at the Pebble Beach Invitational, Mallinger has certainly improved his game since then and the stats look good. He achieved a two-stroke victory over Jason Gore at the Invitational, birdying four of the last six holes for
a 4-under 68. Proud of his putting technique, Mallinger’s fondness for pebble beach and beating such a tough course has doubled his delight at the victory.
Mallinger has several significant ties with Pebble Beach and considers it special. As an amateur Mallinger played the course several times and his caddie caddied in Pebble Beach for a decade. Therefore, finally conquering the tournament and moving up from
his eight top three finishes has further strengthened his bond with Pebble Beach. Despite sporadic rain, he led after the second and third rounds with eight birdies, two bogies and a double bogie in the final round. Gore, who will be playing against Mallinger
in the PGA Tour’s final round as well, closed this tournament with a bogey free 65. However, Gore feels Pebble Beach contributed towards his game, more so because he birdied in the final round. Satisfied with the way he played he believes he will move ahead
with the experience he gained.
Pat Perez, an American professional golfer who is featured in the top 100 in Official World rankings, tied for second place at the tournament with Champions Tour player Russ Chochran. Annika Sorenstam, a Swedish Professional Golfer and one of the most successful
golfers in history due to her astounding victories, finished third. Sorenstam came back to the game after two years of stepping away from the arena.
While other golfers have trouble with the grass, Pebble Beach reminds Mallinger of home – Southern California. He enjoys the weather and the greenery and had dreamt of his first major victory to be at Pebble Beach. Thus, with a two stroke victory under his
wing Mallinger can move ahead and deepen his mark on the golfing world.
Tags: