GOLF - Ryder Cup golfer's keeping day job

24th October 2008

ANENDRA SINGH

Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain?

It hardly matters to American golfer Hunter Mahan (pronounced may-han) who moves into the White House, but he'd like to meet the winner just the same.

When the confetti settles after the impending elections in the United States, the world No 38 swinger has a burning question to ask the successful candidate who will assume the mantle of president on January 20 next year: "Why on earth would you want to be the president of the US?"

Mahan was yesterday responding to a question from SportToday at the Cape Kidnappers Golf Course on whom he would most love to meet.

"Whoever's going to be the new president of the US that's the question I'd ask them because, man, that seems to be a lose, lose job," said the Californian-born golfer who moved to Texas with his family when he was in his teens.

Mahan is in Hawke's Bay to play at the Cape Kidnappers Golf Course during the inaugural $3.92 million Kiwi Challenge on Tuesday. The made-for-TV 36-hole Kiwi Challenge is the brainchild of Julian Robertson, who owns the Cape Kidnappers course and Northland's Kauri Cliffs, where the event starts on Monday.

The other competitors are world No 17 Australian Adam Scott and Americans Anthony Kim (world No 8), and Brandt Snedeker (No 51) who will play for a top prize of $US1.5 million.

Millions of fans from the US, China, India, Latin America and parts of Europe will view delayed coverage in mid-November and New Zealand viewers can see the challenge later next month on Sky Sport.

All proceeds from the $50 tickets will be given to Bay charities.

Mahan, who in September was part of the American Ryder Cup-winning team against Europe, has rubbed shoulders with the likes of boxing legend Muhammad Ali and basketball superstar Michael Jordan, to name a few.

Says Mahan of Ali: "Muhammad Ali's the greatest. He's an icon. He's way more than an athlete.

"He's done so much for his culture, his religion, his people. It's amazing to have met him, seen him. You see old films of him all the time [so] it was an incredible experience just to be there [Ryder Cup practice round when Ali visited the team] at the time."

While the motivation is different in the Ryder Cup environment, he enjoys the fun, challenge and camaraderie.

"I had such a great time to be with 12 great players ... playing golf for one week is not like playing golf for a whole year. It's once every two years so it's so special."

As a child prodigy who won the Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan awards on his way to becoming a professional in 2003, Mahan laughs when asked if he is going to be a flunky if it comes down to getting a haircut and a real job.

"I've played golf for so long now that I don't know much else but I'd like to think that I can make a contribution some other way," he says, partial to something such as managing a sportsperson.

"As a child it was fantastic. I had so many great advantages because my parents [Cindy and Monte] never made me get a job. They just let me play golf and all I had to do was get good grades and work hard at it. I consider myself very lucky."

In keeping his day job Mahan acknowledges he'll be up against three other great players over two days next week. He'll have his work cut out in trying to tame 36 holes that will be a fair way apart - 563km, as the crow flies between Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, to be precise.