It’s been more than a year of change for Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes.
First, he got laser eye surgery, which allowed him to ditch glasses he had been wearing for nearly his whole life.
“If I forgot my sunglasses I was pretty much screwed; now it’s one less thing to worry about. But mainly watching TV has been nice,” Hughes says with a laugh.
Then he and his longtime girlfriend Jenna got engaged.
This week at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper, the changes continued, as Hughes’ usual caddie battled some health problems Thursday night, and Highland Springs’ caddie master, Terry Frost, stepped in during the marathon Saturday after Friday’s second round was postponed due to weather.
“32 holes is enough for me,” said Frost with a smile after the round had completed. “But we got through it.”
As the saying goes, change is a good thing.
Hughes, who shot his low round of 2016 Saturday with a bogey-free 64, stayed the course with a final-round 66 to secure a one-shot victory over Richy Werenski, his first career Web.com Tour title.
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After Werenski applied the pressure with an eagle on No. 18, Hughes stuffed a wedge to 2 feet for birdie and the win. The Kent State alum moves to No. 14 on the money list and secures a PGA TOUR card for the first time.
Hughes, 25, previously had one victory on Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada (in 2013) to his name, and last year returned to Canada for the season after struggling in his debut Web.com Tour season in 2014 after topping the Mackenzie Tour money list the year before.
He admits getting to the Web.com Tour the first time around was a big adjustment.
“The travel was grueling, the schedule doubled, and the competition was tougher. I just think everyone has a different learning curve out here,” he says. “Some people come out here and they take off, and then some guys it takes a couple years, and I’m the latter guy. But I feel pretty comfortable now.”
One could also say the relationship between Hughes and Frost turned comfortable quickly.
“Things have been working out great,” states Hughes. “It’s unfortunate for my caddie but he’s getting attention; it’s more important for him to get that than being out here. I want him to get better, but it’s worked out pretty well.”
Frost, who has been the caddie master for a few years at Highland Springs, works and plays at the course multiple times per week. He has, though, been volunteering at the club since the Web.com Tour started this event in 1990.
And out of the brief time they’ve spent together, Frost envisions big things in Hughes' future.
“He’s a great player. We’re going to see him on the TOUR, there’s no doubt about it,” says Frost. “I’ve caddied for a lot of guys and there’s no doubt he’ll be out there. He’s got it.”
Hughes is part of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program – which provides financial and coaching support to past members of its National Amateur Team and includes fellow Web.com Tour members Albin Choi and Taylor Pendrith (who also went to Kent State University with Hughes) – coached by Derek Ingram, who is also Canada’s Olympic golf coach.
From Rio, Ingram says Hughes needs to focus primarily on playing his own game versus focusing on what others are doing.
“When he plays clean, with few mistakes, he has always been a winner and a guy that can play and beat the top players,” he says. “I love his chances if he’s in a position coming down the stretch. When he rolls in his share, Mackenzie is very dangerous.”
Hughes admits that since his tie for fifth at the LECOM Health Challenge in early July (his best finish of the year) he has been trending in the right direction.
“I’ve been one round away from putting together a good, full tournament,” he explained on Saturday night. “So far, to this point, I’ve put together three good rounds. Now I need to put together a fourth one.”
Making the victory even more special? He and Jenna are getting married in two months.
“It would be a nice early wedding present,” he said with a smile on Saturday.
After a year of changes, Hughes now gets to enjoy one more – a tweak to his professional resume to include “Web.com Tour winner.”
