Alameda’s James Hahn Becomes First Cal Player to Win on PGA Tour
THE 297TH-RANKED PLAYER IN THE WORLD BEAT DUSTIN JOHNSON AND PAUL CASEY AT RIVIERA
O
n James Hahn’s PGA Tour bio, it says his dream foursome would include “The Rock,
Kat Williams and Bernie Mac,” and that he “would most like to play Augusta National.” The kid who grew up in Alameda
and played at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex secured an invitation to Augusta National with his first PGA Tour win in February, outlasting Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey in a three-hole playoff at wet and cold Riviera during the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. No word yet on how Hahn’s
dream foursome is shaping up. Hahn, 33, birdied two of the
three playoff holes—including a 25-footer on the torturous 10th to clinch it—to collect the first PGA Tour win by a Cal-Berkeley player. Artie McNickle had finished runner- up twice, and Charlie Wi has been a bridesmaid five times. “We’ve been close before, but it’s
one thing to be close and another thing to win on the PGA Tour,” Cal men’s golf coach Steve Desimone told The San Francisco Chronicle. “What a great day for James and Cal golf. I’m just so happy for him and so proud of him.” Hahn’s breakthrough is an
unlikely streak stopper. He played for Cal in 2000 and ’01, but didn’t travel with the team his final two years. By 2006, Hahn found himself working at Nordstrom selling shoes in Walnut Creek and Pleasanton. But Hahn fought through the mini-tours and earned his PGA
Tour card two years ago, gaining brief notoriety at the Phoenix Open with his “Gangnam Style” dance on the raucous 16th hole. Hahn was ranked 297th in the
world heading into the playoff, and even fans who asked for his autograph didn’t know who he was.
“I was signing hats after the round,” Hahn said, “and I asked some guy, ‘Is there a playoff?’ He said, ‘Yeah, yeah. It’s Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey and some other guy.’ “I said, ‘Cool, here’s your hat.’” It turned into quite the souvenir. –K.M.
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PHOTO: AP
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