Alameda native strolls from shoe salesman to winning on the green

ALAMEDA, Calif. (KGO) -- A 33-year-old Alameda native is riding high after claiming his first PGA Tour victory Sunday. Overnight, James Hahn went from ranking 297th in the world to 86th. The golfer used to be a shoe salesman and only a few years ago he had as little as $200 to his name.

James Hahn tweeted this picture of the inside of his glove. It says "be great." He says he wrote this in his glove before he teed off on Sunday. It was an idea he got from the Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry.

ABC7 News sat down with his parents and college golf coach on Monday. We learned while James was trying to sink a 25-foot birdie putt at the Northern Trust Open, his parents were holding their breath.

"Unbelievable! So exciting, so many friends and relatives give us a call," Byung Hahn, James' father said.

Byung and his wife spoke to us from their home in Alameda.

Their son, James, was born in South Korea. He was raised and went to school in Alameda.

On Monday Hahn tweeted: "Thanks to all my Alameda peeps who have helped me get to where I am now, especially Erik Stone who has mentored me from my junior days."

Stone works at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

Mike Winkenbach is one of the instructors. He told ABC7 News, "James is a great guy, very humble, very sweet, comes from a great family."

Also watching was his former golf coach at Cal, Steve Desimone. He said, "The only thing I can compare it to is when we won the 2003 NCAA Championship. Whether it's the phone, whether it's texting, emails, it's been absolutely crazy. It's almost like we won the Rose Bowl."

His former coach says Hahn always had great talent, but like anything had to really work at it. In the meantime, he took on some odd jobs like selling shoes at Nordstrom. His parents say they always supported him even then.

"Whatever he was doing, 'OK do it. Try your best,'" Byung said.

With little money in his pockets, Hahn finally decided to put in the time to be a great golfer and he proved that Sunday.

Byung told us his son said to him, "'Dad, I did a good job. Don't you think so?'"

Sunday's victory at the Riviera Country Club means for the next two years, he's exempt from qualifying in any PGA Tour and he's guaranteed a spot in the 2015 Masters.

Hahn received a $1.2 million cash prize on Sunday. It came just in time, as he welcomes his first child in about three weeks.