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There were several rookies hovering around the top of PGA Tour leaderboards on the West Coast Swing, but the results have been predictable. They play well on Thursday and Friday, maybe for a bit on Saturday, then slip when the pressure of Sunday’s final round finally hits them. Brandt Snedeker and Andrew Buckle made a nice run at the Buick Invitational, entering the final round as co-leaders, but they couldn’t hold off a charging Tiger Woods. Snedeker shot a 71 and finished third, while Buckle shot a 72 and tied for fourth. Jeff Quinney had the 54-hole lead at the FBR Open and was leading by two shots with three holes to play but couldn’t hold on and watched as Aaron Baddeley took the trophy from him. The latest rookie to fall short was John Mallinger at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The former Long Beach State golfer finished third, but he looks poised to be back in that position again. Mallinger went 50 holes without a bogey, then made one, but followed with a birdie on the next hole. “My game plan is no bogeys,” Mallinger said. “That’s my main focus.” The 25-year-old had never played in the event, and Pebble Beach was the eighth pro tournament of his career — four of which he has made the cut. Mallinger isn’t a college phenom who made it through Qualifying School on his first attempt. He turned professional in 2002 and played on the Hooters Tour, Canadian Tour and Nationwide Tour before qualifying for the PGA Tour last December. “I think it was a pretty good time for me,” Mallinger said. “I played a couple of years on new tours.” While he was there, he won a couple of events, but more importantly learned how to handle himself on the road. “I think it’s crucial,” Mallinger said. “If you come out of college and go straight here, you’re hitting balls next to [Jim] Furyk or something, it’s like ‘Whoa, I was just playing in the BYU Invitational.’ You just get comfortable with the guys and with yourself.” Mallinger works with swing instructor and Southland Golf contributor Jamie Mulligan of Virginia Country Club, whose clients include John Merrick, Craig Barlow and John Cook. Mulligan was at Pebble Beach early in the week to work with Mallinger and then flew up with a member of Virginia Country Club in Long Beach to see his student play the final round. “He’s so steady,” Mulligan said after the tournament. “Out of all my guys, he’s been the most under the radar, but he has played so well.” Cook has taken Mallinger under his wing and shown him things about the PGA Tour he didn’t know. “I play and practice a lot with him,” Mallinger said. “Obviously, he’s won 11 times out here, he knows what he’s doing, and he knows a lot of the guys.” Mallinger knew plenty of people at Pebble Beach on Sunday, with Mulligan, members of Virginia Country Club, Mallinger’s girlfriend and about 20 other friends and family members on hand to cheer him on during the final round. “I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend,” said Mallinger, who earned $374,000. “It’s so nice to know friends and family are out here supporting me.” SG John Reger has been covering professional golf since 1995. He can be reached at cascribe@aol.com. |
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