Visiting American has already been spoilt in just a handful of days on his first visit to Germany.
First it was a German beer on Monday in Munich and then today, and on the eve of the Porsche European Open, the current World No. 42 got to take one of the sponsors products for a test drive on the autobahn.
“There’s no way I could drive this car on the freeways back home in the States,” he joked.
“So it was great to be able to take the Porsche for a drive on the autobahn this afternoon.”
Mahan is also determined to make an impression on what is a rare visit to continental Europe.
Hunter Mahan about to take one of the sponsor’s products for a spin on the autobahn. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The six-time PGA Tour winner arrived in Bavaria having finished 49th on the FedEx Cup points table but well down on a career high of sixth last season.
So naturally disappointed to miss out on continuing in the Play-Off’s Mahan accepted an invitation to compete in Germany
“I felt like I wanted to be out on the golf course and keep playing, so it was great to have the chance to add this tournament to my schedule,” said the 33 year old.
“It is a prestigious tournament on The European Tour and Porsche are obviously a great sponsor. Part of the attraction is coming to see a new place too and a new culture – one of the great things about golf is that we get to travel.”
Mahan will make up part of the afternoon marquee group on day one at Bad Griesbach Golf Resort, alongside the man who designed this course, Bernhard Langer, and the in-form Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
Hunter Mahan competing in Germany for a first time in his career. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
While Mahan is from a different generation to that of German legend Langer, the California native is full of respect and admiration for all the 58 year old has achieved in the game.
“Bernhard is well respected in the States and he is obviously a big deal here. He is a great golfer who never seems to age.
“He looks the same as he did 20 years ago and he is playing so well on the Champions Tour. He really loves to compete every week,” explained Mahan, before saving perhaps his biggest compliment until last.
“He’s got to be up there with Seve Ballesteros in terms of being a European player to travel the world and come to the States and make an impact. We all respect him for being such a great player for such a long time.” Hunter Mahan
Hunter Mahan finds himself the last man standing in capturing the 2012 WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
As the course architect and two-time champion of this prestigious event, the ultra-competitive Langer will have high expectations this week, while his American playing partner will be attempting to learn from him.
“I’ll try to pick his brain and figure out what he’s thinking on the holes here,” said Mahan.
“It’s a really neat golf course he’s set up here. There are a few water hazards throughout and some out of bounds. I want to be aggressive off the tee this week though and attack the par fours and the par fives with short to mid irons to take advantage of them.”
Travelling to different parts of the world presents the players with new cultural experiences away from the course, something which Mahan has been in prime position to take advantage of this week, with the world famous Oktoberfest festival already underway in Munich.
The folk festival, which attracts around six million visitors each year and sees revellers take in the local food, beer and dance, was unsurprisingly on Hunter’s radar.
“I’m going to go home after the event, as it will be two weeks without seeing my family, which is my limit. But luckily we went to Munich on Monday and the tournament set us up with a chef there.
“We were fully immersed in Oktoberfest. We stood out like sore thumbs though because we didn’t have the garments everyone was wearing, but it was great to experience the culture like that. The people were super friendly, even though we couldn’t understand one another.”
And what of the famous local beers:
“We had a few beers. I don’t think we had a choice. I didn’t think drinking water would’ve gone down very well. It was great though!”
If a confident sounding Mahan can produce the sort of form he has become known for over the years in the States this week in Bavaria, it will be more than just Oktoberfest and the beer he will remember of one of Europe’s most traditional tournaments for.
