Class of 1983

John Mahaffey

Professional Player

Biography

An outstanding basketball player at Kerrville High School, John Drayton Mahaffey, Jr. might have pursued that sport in college except that he weighed only 117 pounds. As it turned out, Mahaffey chose golf and was at the right place at the right time when he was runner-up in the Texas State Junior Championship during the summer of 1966. Mahaffey caught the eye of University of Houston Coach Dave Williams who felt that, “John Mahaffey’s not little. He’s just not big.”

Mahaffey played big for the Cougars, leading the team to the 1970 NCAA Championship by winning the individual title by a stroke over Lanny Wadkins of Wake Forest. John also led the Cougars to a team title in 1969. After college, John went to work as an assistant at Champions Golf Club in Houston. When Ben Hogan came early to practice for the 1971 Houston Champions International, he invited Mahaffey to join him for nine holes. Mahaffey shot a 31, Hogan, 32. Mr. Hogan was so impressed that he used his influence to get Mahaffey into the Colonial National Invitation Tournament, giving Mahaffey a taste of the career he has pursued ever since. Mahaffey played on the 1979 Ryder Cup team.

Known for his precision, Mahaffey led the tour in Greens in Regulation.

He is one of the few players to win official Tour events in Texas on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.

Despite several injuries, Mahaffey, was recognized as an exceptional striker of the ball. He won the PGA Championship and Players Championship among his 10 tour victories. He also became involved in a golf course architecture and design business.

More recently John has blossomed as a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Hiss memoir "Hogan's Boy" is widely acclaimed and his series of novels is full of suspense and intrigue.

Career Highlights

10 PGA Tour Victories
1978 PGA Champion
1986 Players Champion
1979 U.S. Ryder Cup Team Member
1970 NCAA Champion

Scar Tissue

Like so many golfers before him John Mahaffey had to get close in order to learn how to win a Major Championship. Like few golfers before him John had one hand on the trophy...twice.

In back to back U.S. Opens Mahaffey had the lead at some point in the final round. In 1975 he came from behind and tied Lou Graham forcing an 18-hole playoff. Graham had a hard time finding the fairway on Monday but recovered hole after hole to win by 2.

In 1976 Mahaffey held the 54-hole lead by two over 22 year old rookie Jerry Pate. Pate tied Mahaffey on 16 and pulled ahead on 17. Trailing by 1 on the final hole Mahaffey knew the only chance for a victory was a miracle 3-wood out of the rough. The miracle didn't materialize and Pate went on to win.

Mahaffey used the experiences to help him win the 1978 PGA Championship and 1986 Players Championship.

Comeback Kid

John Mahaffey's 1978 PGA Championship win at Oakmont came via a record setting comeback. Trailing by seven shots with 14 holes remaining Mahaffey furiously chased down leader Tom Watson. At the end of regulation Mahaffey was tied with Watson and Jerry Pate. Watson was one of Mahaffey's best friends on Tour and Pate had defeated Mahaffey on the final hole of the 1976 U.S. Open. The playoff started with three pars on the first extra hole but at the second Mahaffey made a 12 foot birdie putt for his lone major championship victory earning a measure of revenge against Pate and preventing Watson from winning the only major that eluded him.

Media Master

After retiring from competitive play John Mahaffey found success on the radio, in television and with the written word. A longtime analyst on Golf Channel John has also hosted a nationally broadcast show on SiriusXM. More recently Mahaffey has drawn critical acclaim as a non-fiction writer and as a novelist. His memoir, titled "Hogan's Boy" drew rave reviews and his novels are loosely based on his days on tour and ideas and storylines he developed traveling the world.