John Mahaffey

Height: 5 ft. 9 in 

Weight: 160 lbs 

Birthday: 05/09/1948

College: University of Houston

Turned Pro: 1971

Birthplace: Kerrville, Texas

Country: United States

Sponsor: Taylor Made

Mahaffey played golf at the University of Houston before turning pro in 1971 after graduating with a psychology degree. His first year on the PGA Tour was 1972 when he finished runner-up twice in his rookie season as well as having two 3rd place finishes. He first Tour win came a year later at the Sahara Invitational where he won by three shots from Dave Eichelberger. Despite having seven runner-up finishes the next two years, including a play-off loss to Lou Graham at the US Open, Mahaffey did not win again until 1978.

His first win 0f 1978 was at a Major Championship, the PGA Championship which was played at Oakmount Country Club. He defeated Jerry Pate and Tom Watson in a play-off to claim the title. He won again that season at the American Optical Classic and he partnered Andy North in winning the World Cup for the United States. The following year he won the Bob Hope Desert Classic and also defended the World Cup, this time claiming victory with a new partner in Hale Irwin.

Mahaffey would win a number of times over the intervening years. In 1986 he won the Players Championship where he beat Larry Mize by a single stroke. His tenth and final PGA Tour win came in 1989 at the Federal Express St. Jude Classic where he won by three strokes. He mad one Ryder Cup appearance, in 1979 when the United States were winners. He joined the Champions Tour in 1998 and won his first and only title the following year at the South-western Bell Dominion where he beat Bruce Fleisher and José Maria Cañizares in a play-off. He last played in an event in 2007.