Nick Mason got to take a bite of the proverbial cookie that is the PGA Tour. Now he wants a glass of milk.
The Ewa Beach resident closed the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii with a 4-under 66 on Sunday — 9-under 271 overall — good for a tie for 42nd place on his home island’s PGA Tour event. It was easily the biggest tournament result in his 10-year pro career.
“I feel like I belong out here.”
Nick Mason
On playing in the Sony Open in Hawaii
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“I feel like I belong out here,” said Mason, 33. “I want to do whatever I can to get back out here for sure.”
Exhorted constantly by a loyal gallery of about 50 friends and family, Mason scorched the Waialae Country Club through his first 11 holes of the day. When he birdied the No. 2 hole, going 6 under for his round and 11 under for the tournament, he was momentarily tied for 19th. Mason could taste his long-sought breakthrough.
Some agonizingly close putts on his back nine prevented it from being a truly epic payday, but he could still smile about it.
He earned $18,661.50 for his efforts — not as big a check as some of his better finishes in smaller events, but easily his best in a prominent tournament. He hadn’t made the cut in a handful of PGA events until this week, including two past Sonys and a U.S. Open.
Mason’s life of going for small tournaments or Monday qualifiers for bigger ones about half the year — like he did successfully preceding Sony to earn a spot — isn’t over just yet. Had he finished in the top 10, he would’ve merited an invitation to next week’s CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, Calif.
Asked to contrast the small events he played right after turning pro out of Hawaii Hilo to this, Mason deadpanned, “I still play them.
“I mean every one of those were getting me ready for this,” Mason said. “Yes, there’s no galleries, it’s small money and it’s bad towns. It’s all that. Look where we’re playing now, it’s unbelievable when you get out here. I’m so motivated now to be out here. If you get a taste of this, man, it’s the life. It’s the greatest life I’ve been dreaming of every day. If I can just get back out here consistently, it will be a dream come true like this week was.”
He remained loose throughout his final day with playing partners Fred Funk and Jason Gore. When Mason chipped out of the rough from about 55 feet to within 2 feet of the cup on No. 4 to save par, the veteran Funk told him, “great touch.” Mason nodded his thanks.
Funk, 59, said he enjoyed watching the youthful gallery follow Mason around.
“Well, it’s a steppingstone, and it’s a big one,” Funk said. “First he made it, and then he made the cut. And he played an unbelievable start today. It was really fun, he was just rock solid, knocking flags down, making putts. It was pretty cool.”
Mason birdied four of his first six holes and had prime opportunities on Nos. 16 and 18 going into the turn. Then he made good on Nos. 1 and 2 with birdies of 30 and 10 feet.
“I’m thinking ‘go, go, go,’ ” Mason said.
He took a step back on No. 3 when he nearly went in the water hazard and chipped up from a tough angle for a two-putt bogey. His 5-footer for birdie on No. 5 lipped out, as did his 8-foot par attempt on No. 6. He parred his way into the scoring tent, but not before raising his cap to his appreciative crowd as he walked off Waialae.
“This will give me motivation,” he said.
At various times over the last few days, Mason had what he described as the best shot of his life (an approach on 18) and the best moment of his life (making the cut). It only made sense that it was his best week, as well.
