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Mallinger: From Long Beach to Pebble Beach
by Abbey Mastracco, Daily 49er
February 28, 2007
At the end of the first round of this year's AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am, the leaderboard had some familiar names: Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson
and Jim Furyk, to name a few. The three of them are no strangers to the
leaderboard.
But at the very top of the leaderboard, sharing the first place spot with
Watney, was one name that stood out and left everyone wondering one thing:
Who is this guy named John Mallinger?
Long Beach State golf coach Bob Livingstone knew who Mallinger was.
"I watched the whole thing and I was living and dying with every
round," Livingstone said. "I was ecstatic."
Mallinger is the newest LBSU alumnus to qualify for the PGA Tour, joining
the likes of fellow tour member and former 49er Paul Goydos, and former
tour members and LBSU grads Mark O'Meara and Mike Miles.
In his rookie year, Mallinger took everyone by surprise by taking a solo
third place at what is considered one of the most difficult and high profile
tournaments on tour. The spitting rain, high-speed winds and the difficult
trio of courses didn't affect Mallinger as he cruised to his first PGA
Tour top-10 finish, and made everyone remember his name.
"The weather didn't really bother me. I felt real comfortable up
there. I'm not sure why," Mallinger said. "Second place would
have been better, but it was awesome. It was a good experience."
Mallinger, an Escondido, Calif., native played for LBSU under coach Livingstone
for four years before turning pro in 2002.
"John is an awesome kid," Livingstone said. "He had more
self-discipline than anyone else I have ever coached, and I think that's
one of the reasons he's doing so well."
During his four seasons as a 49er, Mallinger dominated the Big West Conference,
being named first-team, all-conference twice, sophomore and senior year.
Mallinger was captain of the team for three years.
"He was easily the best leader I've ever had," Livingstone said.
"He led by example, and he set a good example."
The extremely confident 27-year-old said his college success came at no
surprise to him.
"I pretty much [expected it]," Mallinger said. "I have
some high expectations for myself."
Mini tours were the next step in Mallinger's career. These tours were
his wake-up call, as they are for many successful college golfers.
No longer one of the best, and without a team to back him up, Mallinger
failed to make a cut until 2005. But he kept at it and stayed optimistic.
"It was a lot of traveling in my own car, but it was pretty fun,"
Mallinger said. "I got to see the country and different places and
meet a lot of new people."
He began playing events on the Hooters Tour, where he won two West Coast
events, and on the Canadian Tour, where he medaled in the qualifying tournament.
After a successful first half of 2005, Mallinger decided to take a chance
in the big leagues and attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open.
His attempt was successful, and Mallinger made the cut in his first PGA
Tour event. With Livingstone on the sidelines supporting him, he finished
tied for 67th place.
For the second half of the year, Mallinger went out on the Nationwide
Tour, the tour that is considered the stepping-stone to the PGA Tour.
He was finally making cuts, and by the beginning of 2006, Mallinger was
ready for something bigger again. He took another shot at the PGA Tour
and played in the Buck Invitational in San Diego. He made his second PGA
Tour cut and finished tied for 43rd.
"I was pretty comfortable there," Mallinger said. "I made
the cut and I was just excited to play through the weekend."
In December of 2006, Mallinger attempted to qualify for the PGA Tour for
the third time. This time was different and Mallinger knew it. He finished
tied for 13th, which didn't earn him fully exempt tour status but nontheless
still qualified him.
A few weeks after being on tour full-time, Mallinger had his big break
in Pebble Beach.
"You always tee it up to win, but this was a little different. There
was a little more pressure this time," Mallinger said. "I was
in the press room every day [for press conferences] and that was something
new."
Livingstone said he believes his former athlete has what it takes to make
it at the highest level in golf. He knows that it will not be long before
the confident Mallinger gives the top tour members a run for their money.
"For lack of a better term, he just gets it," Livingstone said.
"He believes in himself more than anything."
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