from pgatour.com or somewhere Bill Haas failed to win the first two playoffs he appeared in during the 2011 PGA TOUR season. But he won in...
from pgatour.com or somewhere
Bill Haas failed to win the first two playoffs he appeared in during the 2011 PGA TOUR season. But he won in his third attempt on Sunday – and the payoff was huge.
Haas beat Hunter Mahan with a par on the third extra hole to claim both the FedExCup and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. With the $10 million bonus that comes with the FedExCup, Sunday’s win was worth $11.4 million.
Haas also hopes the win will be enough to convince U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Fred Couples to make him a Captain’s Pick. Couples will announce his last Captain’s Pick on Tuesday.
Haas came into this week with a longshot chance to win the FedExCup. He was ranked 25th in points and needed a handful of scenarios to play out in his favor.
Mahan was in a similar spot, having come into the week ranked 21st in points. Both players entered East Lake looking for their first win of the season.
With Webb Simpson, the FedExCup points leader, finishing in 22nd and Luke Donald, who ranked No. 4 in points, finishing in a tie for third – and the other three players in the top five not getting into contention – the scenarios worked out in their favor.
Haas shot a 2-under 68 to finish at 8 under in regulation. When Mahan parred the 18th hole to also finish at 8 under, the two had their playoff to decide both the tournament champion and the FedExCup champion.
Haas’ most important shot in the playoff came after his approach at the par-4 17th dribbled into the water to the right of the green. Most of the ball was above the water line – “an unbelievably fortunate break” Haas said later – and he hit a tremendous shot to within 3 feet to save his par and force another hole.
“I thought I had one on the second playoff hole and then he hits it out of the water to two feet,” Mahan said. “It seemed like he was destined to win this week.”
Sunday’s win was the third for Haas in his TOUR career. Last year, he won the Bob Hope Classic and the Viking Classic.
This year, he nearly defended his title at the Bob Hope Classic but lost in a three-man playoff when he was eliminated on the first hole. He was also involved in a three-man playoff at The Greenbrier Classic but lost in the first extra hole.
Haas seemed to have control of the tournament in regulation when he birdied the par-4 15th to move to 10 under. At one time, he held a three-shot lead.
But he bogeyed two of his last three holes to open the door for others to take their shots.
Jason Day was at 8 under through 16 holes but he bogeyed the final two holes to eventually fall into a tie for sixth.
“Obviously I’m a little disappointed that I bogeyed the last two holes,” Day said, “but I was trying to win out there.”
K.J. Choi came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to get to 8 under but could not find the green with his tee shot. Aaron Baddeley also came to the 18th needing a birdie but couldn’t roll in his birdie putt from 34 feet.
Luke Donald made birdie at the 18th to move to 7 under. Had he been able to finish in solo third instead of a three-way tie for third, he would’ve won the FedExCup.
“I guess this is what the FedExCup is all about,” Donald said. “It’s meant to be exciting.”
Had Baddeley been able to win the tournament, Simpson – despite his low finish — would have won the FedExCup. Instead, he finished second, a mere 15 points behind Haas.
“A little disappointed I didn’t play any better, but I’m pretty tired right now and it’s kind of shown in my golf game this week,” Simpson said.
Bill Haas failed to win the first two playoffs he appeared in during the 2011 PGA TOUR season. But he won in his third attempt on Sunday – and the payoff was huge. Haas beat Hunter Mahan with a par on the third extra hole to claim both the FedExCup and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. With the $10 million bonus that comes with the FedExCup, Sunday’s win was worth $11.4 million.
Haas also hopes the win will be enough to convince U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Fred Couples to make him a Captain’s Pick. Couples will announce his last Captain’s Pick on Tuesday.
Haas came into this week with a longshot chance to win the FedExCup. He was ranked 25th in points and needed a handful of scenarios to play out in his favor.
Mahan was in a similar spot, having come into the week ranked 21st in points. Both players entered East Lake looking for their first win of the season.
With Webb Simpson, the FedExCup points leader, finishing in 22nd and Luke Donald, who ranked No. 4 in points, finishing in a tie for third – and the other three players in the top five not getting into contention – the scenarios worked out in their favor.
Haas shot a 2-under 68 to finish at 8 under in regulation. When Mahan parred the 18th hole to also finish at 8 under, the two had their playoff to decide both the tournament champion and the FedExCup champion.
Haas’ most important shot in the playoff came after his approach at the par-4 17th dribbled into the water to the right of the green. Most of the ball was above the water line – “an unbelievably fortunate break” Haas said later – and he hit a tremendous shot to within 3 feet to save his par and force another hole.
“I thought I had one on the second playoff hole and then he hits it out of the water to two feet,” Mahan said. “It seemed like he was destined to win this week.”
Sunday’s win was the third for Haas in his TOUR career. Last year, he won the Bob Hope Classic and the Viking Classic.
This year, he nearly defended his title at the Bob Hope Classic but lost in a three-man playoff when he was eliminated on the first hole. He was also involved in a three-man playoff at The Greenbrier Classic but lost in the first extra hole.
Haas seemed to have control of the tournament in regulation when he birdied the par-4 15th to move to 10 under. At one time, he held a three-shot lead.
But he bogeyed two of his last three holes to open the door for others to take their shots.
Jason Day was at 8 under through 16 holes but he bogeyed the final two holes to eventually fall into a tie for sixth.
“Obviously I’m a little disappointed that I bogeyed the last two holes,” Day said, “but I was trying to win out there.”
K.J. Choi came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to get to 8 under but could not find the green with his tee shot. Aaron Baddeley also came to the 18th needing a birdie but couldn’t roll in his birdie putt from 34 feet.
Luke Donald made birdie at the 18th to move to 7 under. Had he been able to finish in solo third instead of a three-way tie for third, he would’ve won the FedExCup.
“I guess this is what the FedExCup is all about,” Donald said. “It’s meant to be exciting.”
Had Baddeley been able to win the tournament, Simpson – despite his low finish — would have won the FedExCup. Instead, he finished second, a mere 15 points behind Haas.
“A little disappointed I didn’t play any better, but I’m pretty tired right now and it’s kind of shown in my golf game this week,” Simpson said.
Technorati Tags: 2011 The Tour Championship Final Round Highlights
COMMENTS