Opinion & Analysis

Did you really expect Mahan to keep playing?

Published

13 years ago

Jul 27, 2013

It’s become something of a standard bit in recent years: A golfer, whose wife is quite pregnant, is asked in a press conference if he’d withdraw from a tournament if he found out his wife was going into labor.

Generally, the golfer mouths some variant of, “Of course I would. There are more important things than golf.”

Yet who, before Hunter Mahan, who withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open upon finding out that his wife had gone into labor, has ever had his feet held to the fire?

In 2007, when wife Elin was pregnant with the couple’s first child, Tiger Woods indicated he’d withdraw during the U.S. Open if his wife went into labor. Fortunately, Woods didn’t have to weigh missing out on a major victory versus missing the birth of his child: Sam Alexis wasn’t born until Monday.

Likewise, Phil Mickelson, at the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, famously played the final round with a cell phone in his pocket, claiming, too, he’d withdraw if he got the call saying his wife was giving birth.

Like Woods, Mickelson didn’t have to leave work early, as his child was born the next day.

Indeed, who can forget Payne Stewart gripping Mickelson, whom he’d just defeated, reminding the golfer that he was going to be a father, which was of far greater significance to the doyen of traditional golfing garb.

Payne Stewart had it right.

True, a win at the Canadian Open would have been the culmination of a spell of fine form for Hunter Mahan, who entered the tournament a favorite to win. He tied for fourth at the U.S. Open in June, a final-round 75 sinking his hopes of a first major win. Likewise, Mahan tied for ninth at the Open Championship last week.

Thus, not only did Hunter Mahan step away from a tournament he was winning after 36 holes, he hit pause on an ascendent streak in his career in order to share in the birth of his first child. It’s possible that he’ll miss next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which he’s committed to, as well.

However, as ESPN’s LZ Granderson said in 2012 when the Chicago Bears’ Charles Tillman was considering whether he’d miss playing time for the birth of his child, we are presented with an outlandish situation with the “Will he or won’t he” drama:

Only an athlete gets applauded for wanting to be there for the birth of a child. Any other millionaire husband who showed up at the office while his wife was giving birth would get funny looks at best and called inhuman at worst. But for some reason, the script is totally flipped in the bizarro world of sports.

If Mahan would have said, “Sorry, honey, I’ve got to finish this thing off…” what could we have said in his defense? What a fabulous illustration of the dedication of PGA Tour players? That the golfer had an obligation to RBC? That he couldn’t leave money on the table? That wins on the PGA Tour are hard to come by and children aren’t?

Hunter Mahan and his wife, Kandi, who was a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys and a dancer for the Dallas Mavericks. The couple married in 2011.

All of the above, of course, is nonsense. Hunter and Kandi Mahan started a profoundly significant nine month journey together. For the golfer to bail with the end in sight, saying to his wife, “Go ahead without me,” would have been absurd, irresponsible, and disrespectful.

Mahan made the right decision, to be sure. However, it’s problematic that there could be a discussion of him doing otherwise. Hunter Mahan is, by all accounts, a great guy. However, his decision to withdraw isn’t heroic or fabulously self-sacrificing. Rather, it’s simply the right thing to do. And I think Mr. Mahan would be the first to tell you that.

Anyone who chooses to become a father and elects not to be present at the beginning of that fatherhood for any reason is deplorable. This is true whether you drive a bus or drive golf balls.

Mahan’s withdrawal is newsworthy. Indeed, any time the 36-hole leader of a tournament withdraws it’s newsworthy. The idea that there was a decision to be made, or some type of calculus, however, is ridiculous.

Again, I think Mr. Mahan would be the first to tell you that.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

13 Comments

Ronald Montesano

Aug 3, 2013 at 9:46 am

Some of these reactions leave me shaking my head and wondering about the future of society vis a vis those who golf. I could go through every negative comment and write a rebuttal, but you don’t want me to, so I won’t.

HM did the only thing possible. He abandoned a potential tournament victory and the mojo/rhythm that accompany it for a higher calling, his family. If I take two days off work, I don’t lose one million dollars. Moneybags? Doubtful. Grounded and centered despite being wealthy? I think so.

Reply Report comment
m

Jul 30, 2013 at 11:20 am

They should have “tried” at Christmas (and not Thanksgiving)! 😉

Reply Report comment
benseattle

Jul 29, 2013 at 3:39 pm

The article is pointless. Just WHO is advocating that a 36-hole leader stick around and try to win a golf tournament? NOBODY, that’s who. Thus articles like this and Jim Nantz’ pandering make no sense at all. The decision was a no-brainer and it’s made every day by executives who skip a board meeting, a salesman who postpones a business trip and a mechanic who takes a few days off work — all because they want to be there for the birth of their first child. Nobody is begrudging them or criticizing them. So why are we going out of our way to PRAISE them for simply Doing The Right Thing?

Write about something that matters…….

Reply Report comment
Bart

Jul 29, 2013 at 3:21 pm

Interesting comment about the Bus Driver and the Golf Ball Driver, factoring in the enormous pay disparity, I reckon it’d be a much harder call for the Bus Driver irrespective of the morals involved, as for Mr. Mahan? what’s a million bucks between friends?.

Reply Report comment
Winmac

Jul 28, 2013 at 10:46 pm

@Desmond is a married man and he’s wise enough to know how to thread the thin line.

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DJ

Jul 28, 2013 at 7:08 pm

Wow…..a husband took off a day of work for the birth of his child….Jim Nantz made it sound like he cured cancer today….this is nothing special, it is called being a normal person with a brain.

Reply Report comment
ABgolfer2

Jul 28, 2013 at 4:04 pm

A multi-millionaire takes the weekend off. Zzzzzzzzzzz. . .

Reply Report comment
Desmond

Jul 28, 2013 at 11:45 am

Let’s see, attractive Dallas Cows Cheerleader and Mavs Dancer versus Hunter “Money Bags” Mahan. I’d say Hunter made the right call if he wants to keep that wife … Guys, if you haven’t learned, Women don’t forget and they DO hold it against you. There’s always another tournament to make a million, but kids? That’s an unknown. And a wife who keeps on giving? Priceless.

Reply Report comment
- Golfcomestomind
  
  Jul 29, 2013 at 8:36 pm
  
  Reality is sometimes difficult to see. You have vision Desmond.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bill

Jul 28, 2013 at 10:12 am

I realize this isn’t a PC answer, but I could go either way on this..
Mahan’s wife went into labor early AND it’s his first child, so it’s kind of a no brainer. But these guys are entertainers and it detracts from the “show” when they take off in the middle of a tourney, especially while leading. If the money wasn’t so outrageously high for these guys, you wouldn’t be seeing all this fleeing..But a guy gets a couple top 10 finishes and he’s set for a year or two…Call me insensitive (although arguably Mahan’s situation is a little different), but having babies is no big deal after the first one..

Reply Report comment
- Mi
  
  Jul 28, 2013 at 11:16 am
  
  You’re right. You’re not insensitive. You’re very rational and are economically sensible. Babies are born every minutes. One can also watch the experience of others on YouTube. I suppose he can have someone videotape the moment while he’s making money for the child support. Now, that’s what we know it as a responsible father.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Geoffrey
    
    Jul 28, 2013 at 4:03 pm
    
    A conversation about this is hysterical. No one should ever miss the birth of their child. What I find most interesting is the statement that Mahan is a great guy by all accounts. I have actually heard by most that the opposite is true.
    
    Reply Report comment
Rob

Jul 28, 2013 at 9:26 am

It was the 1999 U.S. Open for Mickelson.

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