Canadian Rookie Mackenzie Hughes Wins RSM Classic For First PGA Tour Title

Mackenzie Hughes sunk an 18-foot par putt from off the green Monday morning to win the RSM Classic in St Simons Island, Georgia and become the first rookie in 20 years to go wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour title.

Canadian Rookie Mackenzie Hughes Wins RSM Classic For First PGA Tour Title

The Canadian, who will turn 26 on Wednesday, delivered a strong performance at St Simons.

“If I don’t make that putt I’m probably done, but I tried to flip that around and say everyone’s got work left for par, but if I can put mine in first, it makes everyone’s job harder,” Hughes told Golf Channel after. “So I just tried the best to make it and put something for them to look at. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was on a great line. I gave it some pace, because I knew if I didn’t make it, I was probably out. About a foot from the hole, I knew it was in the heart and it was such a good feeling to see it go in.”

All four players who had to return for the third extra playoff hole missed the green at the par-3 17th. Hughes found himself in the toughest spot, and his hit up a slope didn’t even reach the green. However, he made the putt and celebrated knowing he was still alive in the playoff.

After him, however, Blayne Barber, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villega all missed par putts from 10 feet or closer.

Hughes, who earned his PGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour, is the first rookie to win on the tour since 1996. When asked by Golf Channel about his experience playing with Phil Mickelson at the Safeway Open in October, and how this prepared him for Monday’s win in just his fifth start on tour, the Canadian sounded grateful.

“It was huge. Just being in that atmosphere with those galleries it prepared me to deal with what I was dealing with yesterday and today,” Hughes said. “You couldn’t buy that experience. So playing with him was a real treat.”

Hughes earned nearly $700,000 more than the four players who finished tied for second, as well as a spot in the Masters in April, and most importantly, job security on the PGA Tour through 2019.

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA – NOVEMBER 21: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada plays his tee shot on the 17th hole during the playoff in the final round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort Seaside Course on November 21, 2016 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)