"It was bar none the best part of the day was them running on the green."
The moment @MacHughesGolf had been waiting for ❤️ pic.twitter.com/a9f8IrVvBp
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 3, 2022
It’s been six years since Mackenzie Hughes last won on the PGA Tour and a lot of things have changed since that victory at the 2016 RSM Classic, which like his win at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday, also ended in a playoff.
The celebration on the green this time around was more of a family celebration, not only with his wife Jenna, but also with his two sons present.
“My oldest son is old enough now to kind of understand it and he knows when dad misses the cut and we have to go home and when his friends’ dads miss the cut and they have to go home,” said Hughes.
“Then, he also sees the trophies I have at home that I’ve won, but he’s never seen dad win a trophy, so he always asks when am I going to get another trophy and when does he get to have a trophy,” he said.
“So this one might sit in his room for a while because he’s been talking about it for quite some time,” he added.
“I wanted that moment really badly, to have my family there and to come on to the 18th green and to share that with them. You’re trying to push those thoughts to the side, but at the same time, I knew I was playing really well and I was focused on what I had to do,” said Hughes.
“It was, bar none, the best part of the day was them coming on the green,” he said.
Hughes appeared to be taking command with consecutive birdies on the ninth and 10th holes gave him the lead at 16 under. Not to be outdone, Sepp Straka put up consecutive birdies on 14 and 15 to move to 17 under until Hughes pulled even with a birdie on 15.
Rolling in back-to-back birdies 😤@MacHughesGolf takes the solo lead at -16. pic.twitter.com/pcOhQpvqh1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 2, 2022
With Straka finished at 17 under and tied for the lead, Hughes made a successful up and down from behind the green to save par on 18 and force the playoff.
Hughes finished regulation play with a three-under 69, with Sepp firing a final round 67.
Both players made par on the first extra hole, the 18th. It also served as the second playoff hole, where Hughes birdied to take his second PGA Tour win.
Canadian @MacHughesGolf already making a statement for 2024 👏
Le Canadien Mackenzie Hughes qui envoie un message en vue de 2024! pic.twitter.com/2ua9BIBRzx
— Presidents Cup (@PresidentsCup) October 3, 2022
“I’ve had a good career, but what it lacked is wins and you know, I see Brooke (Henderson) winning, winning majors,” said Hughes.
“(The win) is a very freeing feeling. It’s a it’s a weight off your shoulders. It’s validation, it’s confidence, self belief, all that comes with it and I’m excited to keep going. I really feel like my best golf ahead of me. I’m 31 years old,” he said.
Hughes is one of several Canadians to win the event in Jackson. Nick Taylor won his first PGA Tour title at the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship and is also now a two-time winner.
Other Canadians to win in Jackson include Richard Zokol in 1992 and the late Dan Halldorson in 1986, both when the tournament was known as the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic
Taylor finished with his third consecutive 70 to tie for 19th at 10 under. Michael Gligic and Adam Hadwin each tied for 45th at six under. Adam Svensson was another shot back in a tie for 54th.
All of the scores are here.
LPGA Tour
Maddie Szeryk shot a final round 76 to conclude the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America in a tie for 24th at four under in The Colony, Tx.
Brooke Henderson’s final round started with a double bogey and finished with a bogey, but she posted a 70 to finish in a tie for 29th at three under.
Click here for the final leaderboard.
Epson Tour
Selena Costabile concluded the Tuscalooosa Toyota Classic with a two-under 70 that left her tied for 17th.
Costabile finished all four rounds at six under.
The final leaderboard is here.
