Tour Report: No. 15 Hunter Mahan

To preview the 2013 PGA TOUR season, PGATOUR.COM is counting down the Top 100 Players to Watch in 2013. For an archive page with the top 100 players and for an explanation on how the list was compiled, click here.

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2013 PREVIEW: Last year was the tale of two seasons for Hunter Mahan. He won twice by April 1st, but his best finish in his next 16 starts was a tie for eighth, accomplished twice. Finding consistency throughout the 2013 season will be important if Mahan, who finished one spot shy of automatically qualifying for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, is to return to international competition at the Presidents Cup.

2012 DEFINING MOMENT: Mahan won his second World Golf Championships event when he took a 2-and-1 victory over Rory McIlroy in the finals of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Three starts later, Mahan rallied from two back to beat Carl Pettersson by one at the Shell Houston Open and take over the top spot in the FedExCup standings. He ended up 19th but he joined Steve Stricker as the only two players to play in all 24 Playoffs events. –- Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

ALBERS’ QUICK TAKE: I felt so badly for Hunter when he missed the Ryder Cup team and admired the way he handled the situation. His chip on the 70th hole at The Shell Houston Open was one of the better shots of the season. I think he’s a great driver of the golf ball with a penetrating flight. — Fred Albers, SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio

BOLTON’S FANTASY OUTLOOK: Despite his second-half fade, he still eclipsed $4 million for the first time in nine seasons on the PGA TOUR. Two victories including a World Golf Championship (Match Play) will do that for you. Turned 30 in May, so he’s inching into his prime, which is a scary proposition given the high level of consistency he’s authored over the last four years. Because he can undress flagsticks at a moment’s notice, rarely misses cuts and plays a full schedule, plug him in late in the first round. — Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy expert

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2012 QUICK REVIEW

Starts: 23

Cuts made: 20

Rounds played: 82

Top-10 finishes: 5

Money List rank: 9th

Driving distance: 61st

Driving accuracy: 17th

Greens in regulation: 12th

Strokes gained-putting: 111th

Scoring average: 39th

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

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