GolfTalkCentral

Mahan takes momentum into Match Play title defense

By Randall Mell
Feb 17, 2013 8:20 PM ET

LOS ANGELES – Hunter Mahan didn’t like his finish Sunday at the Northern Trust Open, but he takes some momentum to his title defense at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship this week.

“I feel good about what I’m doing, and the game feels good,” Mahan said.

Mahan was brilliant in Sunday’s start at Riviera, with birdies at four the first six holes. When he birdied the 11^th, he was tied for the lead. He fell out of contention with bogeys at three of the last four holes and tied for eighth.

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A year ago, Mahan rolled through the Match Play Championship, defeating Zach Johnson, Y.E. Yang, Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar and Mark Wilson before defeating Rory McIlroy in the final.

“It’s really six individual tournaments against world class competition,” Mahan said. “You have to step on the first tee on the first day and play well.”