Posted by Travis Rodgers on Mar 1, 2010

Mahan Wins, Fowler Lay-Up and Poulter Lobs A Bird #PGA

Orange Julius

Hunter Mahan is your 2010 Phoenix Open winner. Fine. He putted lights out, he has a cool soul patch, he has tons of game. Good for him. I like Mahan, he’s a great player.

He rolled in a clutch birdie in front of the most ‘electric’ (drunk) crowd in golf and earned his first win in a few years. Good for him.

It sure as hell didn’t hurt that the guy chasing him, Rickie Fowler, decided to lay up on the par-5, 15th, instead of taking a shot at eagle. His playing partners, Camilo Villegas and the artist formerly known as Mark Calcavecchia, both went for and hit the green, despite being further away than Fowler. Go for it. You're crazy enough to wear an all orange get-up in front of the golf world, but you won’t pull a long club with the tournament on the line? What?

You are 21 years old, you are trying to become the youngest winner of that event since Tiger was just a young phenom and known for nothing more than his ability to play golf. Pull the trigger, hit the shot. Maybe you rinse it, maybe you don’t make eagle, but give yourself a shot. And leave the orange pants at home.

Best moment of the event was Ian Poulter giving the finger to the gallery at 16, after he missed his birdie putt. Love it. If the nuts surrounding that hole are going to treat it like it's an MMA event, then they are going to get it coming back from the players. I loved the crowd at 16, and I love that Poulter tossed them the finger. Golf needs more obscene finger gestures.