Round 4: Northern Trust Open

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Bill Haas is fast getting a reputation as a player with a flair for the dramatic.

After all, he came from two strokes back to force a playoff Sunday at the Northern Trust Open and then beat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley with an improbable 45-foot putt on the second extra hole.

Five months ago in an another playoff at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Haas waded into the water on the penultimate hole for a phenomenal par save that paved the way for the FedExCup title as well as the tournament crown.

“And I think if anything what the FedExCup did for me is I’ve told myself that a ton of times, anything can happen, Haas said. “I said that a little bit on the putt there on (the second playoff hole). You never know, just hit a good putt and hopefully it goes. “

Sunday’s win at Riviera was the fourth of Haas’ career. The 29-year-old closed with a 69 and used a two-putt birdie at the 17th hole to grab the lead, then he was waiting on the range as the crowd erupted when Mickelson poured in a 37-footer for the tying birdie and Bradley followed with a 14-footer to join the fray.

Haas’ winner of a putt at the 10th hole may not have sent the crowd into the same kind of frenzy but it was certainly effective. Then Mickelson, who was in the greenside bunker, had to hole his shot but it landed 9 feet short of the pin. Bradley had a chance from the back fringe but the putt slipped by and Haas had the victory.

“I never expected to make a 40‑footer, and especially in that situation,” Haas admitted. “That was a little bit of luck involved, but felt like I put a good roll on it, and it was meant to be, I guess.”

Mickelson, who was going for his second straight win and the 41st of his career, agreed. At 312 yards, the 10th hole is a short but challenging par 4 that is tempting and treacherous at the same time.

"Bill hit a tremendous putt," Mickelson said. "We’re thinking it’s a very difficult 3, it’s a defensive hole. You’re just trying to make 4 believe it or not.  It’s only 290 yards, 280 yards, but you’re trying to make par. He ended up making a 50-, 60-footer and that’s going to do it."

Bradley joked that he was glad to see a fellow belly putter win but added he didn’t expect to see Haas bury the putt – as he had on the 18th in regulation when Mickelson was standing over the tying effort.

"I should have known, though, because he’s a great putter and a great player,” Bradley said. “But I still had a really good look at mine, and I hit a perfect one for me, I’m happy with it because it went right down my line, and it just didn’t go in. But hopefully I learned a lot from today, and I’ll be able to take that into the next one."

With the victory, Haas moved to fourth in the FedExCup. He also jumped from 27th to 12th — his highest position ever — in the Official World Golf Ranking and established himself as one of the players to beat at this week’s World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — You want drama? well, you got it at the 10th hole.

Phil Mickelson kept the honors and put his tee shot in the rough short of the right greenside bunker. Keegan Bradley’s then trickled into the sand at the back of the same bunker while Bill Haas put his well over the green in the rough.

Haas had to play away from the pin, and his second shot found the putting surface but stopped 45 feet short. Mickelson’s trickled across the green into the back bunker while Bradley blasted out to 14 feet.

Haas then drained the 45-footer for the win. Mickelson left his bunker shot 9 feet short and Bradley barely missed his birdie try.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — All three playoff participants found the fairway at the 18th hole.

Phil Mickelson’s drive traveled 287 yards while Bill Haas’ covered 303 and Keegan Bradley’s 321.  Haas came up short, as he did in regulation, while Mickelson left himself a 37-foot birdie putt and Bradley ended up in the back fringe 14 feet away.

Haas chipped to 3 feet, 6 inches while Mickelson left his birdie putt 3 feet short. Bradley’s putt then nipped the hole.

The three made their par putts so it’s off to the 10th hole, an exciting, drivable par 4.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — No one needed to tell Bill Haas there would be a playoff.

The range where he was hitting balls is about 50 yards from the 18th green. He could hear the roars as first, Phil Mickelson, and then, Keegan Bradley, poured in birdie putts to pull into a tie with him after 72 holes of the Northern Trust Open.

Now the threesome will head back to the 18th hole to decide the winner. The playoff will continue at Nos. 10, 14 and 18, if necessary.

Mickelson’s birdie putt came from 26 feet, 9 inches while Bradley made his from 13 feet, 5 inches. Those putts represented the seventh and eighth birdies there all day.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Phil Mickelson ended up one revolution shy of a tying birdie at the 17th hole at Riviera.

Mickelson had put his second shot in the greenside bunker, then blasted out to 20 feet as he attempted to pull even with Bill Haas, who had just finished off a 69 and holds the lead at 7 under.

Meanwhile, Mickelson’s playing partner, Keegan Bradley, found the right fairway bunker and eventually missed a 28-footer for his own tying birdie birdie.

There have only been six birdies at the 18th hole on Sunday.