Mahan moving well beyond loss at the Ryder Cup

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There is always a tendency to dance around a difficult topic with an athlete, especially a very successful one. Case in point: Hunter Mahan.

No matter how much success he achieves on the PGA TOUR -- and he's already achieved more than just a select few -- some fans will always remember Mahan for what happened at last year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

Mahan had the good luck/misfortune -- you pick -- of being placed in the Cup's deciding match. Playing last in the U.S. singles, if he beats Graeme McDowell or halves the match, the Americans retain the Cup. But he lost on the 17th hole when he hit a poor chip and McDowell showed the mettle of a U.S. Open championship.

So it came as no surprise Sunday that as soon as Mahan moved into contention at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am with a front-nine 31, the video that started showing of Mahan was ...

... last year's Ryder Cup.

A replay of the chip, followed by replays of the Europeans celebrating with McDowell, followed by replays of an emotional Mahan answering questions with teammates such as Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink immediately coming to his defense.

Poignant times, to be sure. But Mahan doesn't sound like someone in need of therapy when that memory is revived.

"It was, no question, one of the greatest experiences any golfer can have, to play in the Ryder Cup," he said. "I was excited to have that opportunity to have a chance to win the Cup like that. I only take positives from it, that's for sure."

One of the adages in life is you can't control what happens to you; only how you choose to deal with such events.

The tears shed by Mahan at the Ryder Cup resonated with fans on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. So much for the stereotype that professional athletes are only in it for the money. To this day, he continues to receive texts, e-mails and letters from fans who were touched by his strong reaction.

"I think people appreciate the showing of the emotions and showing that (we) care," Mahan said. "The only thing we were going to win was a Cup. We weren't going to win any money. We were trying to play for our country and we were trying to play for each other and we were trying to play for Corey (Pavin, the U.S. captain). And that's it. And there's no better honor than that."

Mahan's Sunday charge stalled on the back nine, however, and he settled for the fifth runner-up finish of his PGA TOUR career, two shots behind D.A. Points. Had Mahan won, he would have joined Dustin Johnson as the only players on the PGA TOUR with four wins in their 20s.

As it is, Mahan is one of only five players (Johnson, Anthony Kim, Sean O'Hair and Camilo Villegas as the only players under 30 to have at least three wins. Mahan also has been consistent -- he is one of only five players to have qualified for all four of THE TOUR Championships during the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. The others are an impressive bunch: Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Ernie Els.

Mahan had his breakout season in 2010, winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, to move him among the elite level of players. His Official World Golf Ranking improved to No. 18 after Pebble Beach. Starting the day five shots back of leader Steve Marino, Mahan knew he would have to go really low to get career win No. 4. The final-round 66 proved to be two shots too high.

"I hit it good," he said. "Hit a lot of greens, a lot of chances, and put up a pretty good number."

It has been a great year for Mahan off the course, too. Last month he married Kandi Harris, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Already sixth in this year's FedExCup standings, Mahan has given his fans a lot to cheer about.

And no reason to dance around last year's Ryder Cup experience.

Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.