The rebuttal from Hunter and his legal team suggested he would wage a legal battle with the union over that sum.

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The deadline passed and Hunter is still with the team, which means his salary is now guaranteed.

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Padraig Harrington and Hunter Mahan, who missed out on being among their respective team captains' wild-card picks, shot 70 to be tied for 41st while automatic U.S. selections Keegan Bradley (71) and Jason Dufner (72) were further back.

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Hunter is also confident that other academy players will break through into the Saints first team.

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