Contrite Mahan launches last drive for Ryder Cup berth

PARAMUS, New Jersey (Reuters) - Hunter Mahan has made his peace with the PGA of America and in Thursday's opening round of the Barclays Classic he began to make his case for selection as a captain's pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

The 26-year-old Mahan fired a sensational nine-under-par 62 at Ridgewood Country Club to seize a four-stroke lead in the opening event of the U.S. PGA Tour's FedExCup playoffs series.

Mahan has two weeks to make a positive impression on U.S. captain Paul Azinger after attracting negative publicity at the PGA Championship for critical comments he made in an interview published early this month about Ryder Cup week.

PGA of America officials scolded Mahan, who apologized for comments to Golf Magazine ranging from how players were treated like "slaves", to how greed ruled Ryder Cup arrangements and that "the fun is sucked right out of it".

"It was a pretty tough week," Mahan said about the PGA at Oakland Hills, where besides being taken to task for the remarks, he shot 81-79 and missed the cut. "But you learn from your mistakes and it was something I learned from.

"I talked to the right people and clarified everything and got everything out in the open with them. I think it turned out fine in the end."

Mahan said he was now focused on trying to make his first Ryder Cup team.

"I would love to be a pick but I've got to earn it," Mahan told reporters. "Looking forward to that challenge and the opportunity the next couple of weeks."

Azinger will announce his four captain's picks on Sept 2 to add to the top eight on the Ryder Cup points list who qualified automatically after the PGA Championship.

Mahan slipped to 12th on the list after entering the PGA ranked 10th.

"You know, I didn't play well enough to make the team on points, so I have to go another way," he said. "Luckily there's four picks."

(Editing by John O'Brien)