Fan To James Hahn Before NoTrust Open Playoff: "It's Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey and some other guy."

The golf knowledge of last week's Northern Trust Open fans left a lot to be desired. Pretty much any shot not holed from the fairway earned a light applause (at best), even if it was to three feet on the 240-yard fourth.

Sadly the tournament had nice momentum fan-wise until this year, when fewer everyman's promotions and light local advertising/non-existent local television coverage combined with LA's viewing Super Bowl (the Oscars) to sport tiny crowds. And all at the best spectator viewing course on the PGA Tour. Such a waste, especially with the antics that true golf fans would have found so appealing Sunday.

Either way, the ignorance did have its benefits, as noted by Bill Dwyre in his LA Times wrap of the event. Before the fan ignorance part, there was also this from Hahn, a breath of fresh air who moved from 297th in the world to 86th:

After college, he couldn't make it in golf. So, much of 2006, he sold shoes at Nordstrom in Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

"I was pretty good at it," he said. "Sold a lot."

He was asked if he is a shoe guy.

"I don't think we can afford Nordstom's," he said. "We are more Foot Locker kind of people."

And there was this from Hahn about his post-round autograph signing and question to a fan, noted by Dwyre and the PGA Tour's DJ Piehowski, and Instagrammed by the tour(!):

A video posted by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Feb 23, 2015 at 8:06am PST

Though Hahn's trophy ceremony speech isn't available, AP's Mark Terrill captured a tremendous image (embedded above) to capture the fun that witnesses said was evident.

Golf Central aired this from the post round presser:

Comments

[JB]

As an LA resident with free access to a ticket who didn't bother using it, there's tons of reasons the tori ament is lightly attended.

It's a hard part of LA to get to, and the spectator parking is truly horrific.
It's played in the wettest coupe weeks of the year, insuring wide swaths of bad weather. We're in an historic drought, yet it still managed to attract the biggest rain storm we've had in a month.
Finishing on Oscar Sunday is crazy. The LA Super Bowl is the perfect comparison. Try going to s grocery store mid Sunday morning on Oscar Sunday and you'll find a special level of hell, with everyone stocking up for parties.
And just as important, the ones not having parties are the ones who have to work. If you're upper middle class in LA, there's a decent chance you work in entertainment, which means you're probably either working on having/going to a party on Oscar Sunday.

[gg]

So happy for Hahn. I started rooting for him after they showed him walk up to a cameraman and share his umbrella when it started to rain. Classy guy.

[Ted Ray's Pipe]

Hahn handled the autograph remark with aplomb.
All you need to know about the casual fan or the sort of adult who wants autograph from player he doesn't know or recognize:
Totally clueless.
Wonder if that fan realizes by now who was signing his hat ....

[Lip Out]

I've been a Hahn fan since his display in Phoenix a year or two ago!

[Hennie Bogan]

Seems like a great guy who gets it.

[Principal's Nose]

For now, as long as the PGA Tour knows what name to put on the winner's check..........public recognition after that will come quick enough.

A well-spoken young man. Wishing him continued success.

[munihack]

Hahn's stats tee to green and Ko's at Royal Melbourne show the secret to tough golf courses- hit a lot of greens and when you get a chance with a wedge take advantage. His story of aiming at driving range baskets after his round while Harrington was wathcing was insightful. These players hit so many balls they use games to keep things interesting and if I was a tourney director I would add baskets or buckets to the range at my tourney- On pro-am day they could have a range contest for charity (always the winner on tour...) When I attend an event I learn a lot watching the players on the range. Hahn's presser was great because in a few answers he gave a concise summary of the life of a touring pro who has matured as a person and player on his "journeyman" career. Every golfer who aspires to improve can identify with some of his stories. Another insight from the last few weeks- if you find a 3 wood or driver you hit well-keep it.

[Bob.]

I like this guy. Good vibes.

[Pat]

I agree, I like everything about this guy -- from offering the cameraman an umbrella down the stretch, to his unbelievable up and down on 10, to his clutch putt on the last hole, to the autograph story. I hope he stays on the first pages of the leaderboards, he's one of my new favorites.

[dbh]

Great win for Hahn, what a likeable guy. He is one of the most effortlessly funny athletes I can recall.
Here's a blast from the past:

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2010/11/1/one-way-to-make-a-lay-up-or-go-for-it-decision.html#comment10377308

[Squeaky]

Seems like a friendly crowd, so I will tell my James Hahn story. I met him at a corporate dinner at Torrey Pines two weeks ago, which he and Sang Moon Bae attended... I didn't recognize him, but introduced myself and when I heard his name I remembered Phoenix and that my son thinks he's super cool.

Me: James, it's so cool to meet you, my son is a huge fan of yours and will be thrilled.
James: Dude, you should be talking to Sang Moon. He's the real star here. He's won twice out here.

James then proceeded to brag about how good his friend Sang Moon is and what a rising star Sang-Moon is. Then he spoke with a lot of insight and humility on how hard it is to win on tour, and how much he respected Sang Moon for his two wins. In case I didn't know, he wanted to make it clear that he hadn't won a PGA event yet.

Super guy, love the way he won and the way he handled it.