What's in my bag? Hunter Mahan

By Hunter Mahan

Interviewed By Mark Soltau

Photos By Charles Laberge

Age: 25 / Lives: Plano, Tex. / Story: Won the 2007 Travelers Championship, closing with birdies on the 72nd hole and the first hole of a playoff.

THE BIG CHANGE

I was thrilled with winning at Hartford this year, but it all goes back to the second round of sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open (see Rosaforte's "Tour Insider: The Year In Review") My sport psychologist, Neale Smith, caddied for me, and I shot 73 the first round and was just waiting for bad things to happen. He was disgusted with the way I was acting, and he was 100 percent right.

I shot 63 in the second round and qualified. I've been playing pretty good ever since. I was so concerned with how I looked and how I swung, I forgot how to play and get the ball in the hole. I was able to let myself go out there and play and not criticize myself on the course as much.

By Hunter Mahan

Interviewed By Mark Soltau

Photo By Charles Laberge

GUILTY PLEASURES

I have a thing for cars. I've had an Aston Martin and a Mercedes CL65. Now I have a Bentley, but I also have a '72 GMC lowride pickup.

GROWING UP

I've been lucky my whole life. Just amazing parents. I think that it's almost been too good, actually. I've been so privileged that I haven't had to do much. I've had to learn a lot the last couple years, how to be a man and take responsibility.

DRIVER

My driver is a Ping Rapture, 9.3 degrees, 45 ¼ inches, Ping 824 prototype shaft. Ping measured the loft digitally so it differs from the number on the sole.

Equipment Photos By Darren Carroll