Hahn breaks losing streak and secures win against Castro

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Hahn breaks losing streak and secures win against Castro

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - James Hahn said the anxiety was creeping in after missing eight straight cuts on the PGA Tour, causing him to wonder if he’d ever get his game straightened out.

But after a long talk with caddie Mark Urbanek last week, Hahn came to Quail Hollow Club with renewed confidence and a newfound determination to end his losing streak. He did that and more.

Hahn beat Roberto Castro with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff Monday in the Wells Fargo Championship to snap the three-month slump back in shape and earn his second PGA Tour title.

Hahn, perhaps best known for his “Gangnam Style” birdie celebration three years ago on the Phoenix Open’s rowdy 16th hole, said when things got bad he remained motivated by never wanting to lose his PGA Tour card and having to play on the Web.com Tour. He won’t have to worry about that now for quite some time.

In winning, Hahn picked up the $1.3 million prize and an automatic two-year extension on the PGA Tour. Not bad for a former Bay Area women’s shoes salesman.

Hahn said he never looked at the scoreboard and didn’t know that if he made par on the 72nd hole he would have likely clinched the tournament victory. Instead, he 3-putted and made bogey, opening the door for Castro.

Castro, playing in the final group behind Hahn, made par to force a playoff.

But Castro’s tee shot on the playoff hole found the creek on the left side of the fairway and his third shot landed in a spectator’s shoe on the side of the green, leading to a bogey.

Hahn shot 2-under 70 on Monday, and Castro had a 71 to finish at 9 under, one shot ahead of Justin Rose (71). Hahn also won the 2015 Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Both Castro and Hahn had chances to win in regulation.

Castro broke a tie when he rolled in a birdie putt from 6 feet on the 15th hole to get to 11 under. But he quickly gave the lead up with bogeys at 16 and 17 on the “Green Mile,” the toughest closing holes on the PGA Tour.

AP
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