Alameda Native James Hahn Gives Twitter Shout Out To Hometown, Steph Curry After Cinderella PGA Win
ALAMEDA (CBS SF) - How do you feel after going from a relatively unknown golfer to a PGA winner at the prestigious Riviera course? Grateful.
Alameda High grad James Hahn says many people watching the action didn't know who he was as he started a playoff with Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey at the Northern Trust Open Sunday. The former shoe salesman played the final round with Johnson and Jim Furyk, and as they walked up the stairs to sign their cards before the playoff, Hahn heard a little kid say, "Good job, Jim. Good job, Dustin." And then he blanked when he saw Hahn.
"Even when I was signing hats after the round, I asked some guy, `Hey, is there a playoff? Like, what's going on?' He's like, `Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey and some other guy.' I was like, `Yeah? OK, cool. Here's your hat."'
Hahn, who played golf at UC Berkeley, had never won on tour before, and was ranked No. 297 in the world before hitting two birdies in three holes to take the purse.
The victory jumped him to number 86 in the world ranking and gave him a two-year exemption to play on a tour that took him 10 years to reach. He'll now compete at the Masters. And he isn't forgetting who helped him get there. On Monday morning, he was on Twitter thanking his Bay Area roots.
In addition to The Masters, Hahn has another big event coming up - a baby girl on the way in three weeks.
"I couldn't be more excited, and more nervous that we don't have a name picked out yet," Hahn said. "I'm going to have to talk to my wife about `Riviera.' I think that's a good name," he said, referring to the course.
TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
