Hunter Mahan misses out the US team spot for the first time in six years
After missing out the top-eight automatic qualifiers for the US Ryder Cup team by one spot, Hunter Mahan was still a hot favourite for the four wildcard picks by the captain Davis Love III.
Following the announcement of the four additions to the team on Tuesday, he was nowhere in the 12-man squad. Love confirmed Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker as his final choices.
It is the first time in six years that Mahan failed to earn a spot in the United States team for a team event – he represented the region in the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup in each of the last five years.
“The Ryder Cup has been a goal for every American player, and it's disappointing not to be a part of it," Mahan told reporters. "I've been part of the last five (U.S.) teams, so it hurts not to be a part of it," he added, referring to both the Ryder Cup
and the Presidents Cup. "It feels a little empty right now”.
Entering the PGA Championship last month, he had a chance to replace Phil Mickelson at the eighth rank in the FedEx Cup standings.
However, he missed the cut and remained at the ninth spot. Still, he could have impressed Love with some good finishes in the remaining three PGA Tour events.
Yet, he failed to do so, after skipping the Wyndham Championship and missing the cut at The Barclays. Last week, he tied for the 39th position at the Deutsche Bank Championship, which was not enough to prove his form.
He himself admitted that he got off to a great start in the 2012 PGA Tour season and recorded two victories. Since he won the Shell Houston Open in April, he managed to record only one top-10 finish in 14 events that he played.
"It's been a good year," said Mahan. "I've played pretty well. Obviously I haven't been playing as well recently, but there are still two (PGA Tour playoff) events left ... and they don't feel quite as important as I want them to be right now”.
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