Round 4: TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
September 25 2011
10:43 pm
Haas makes bid for Presidents Cup
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
ATLANTA — We won’t know Fred Couples’ final decision until that teleconference on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
But Bill Haas certainly put himself at the center of the conversation about who will be the U.S. captain’s final pick for the Presidents Cup when he won the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in a playoff on Sunday — and with it, the FedExCup and it’s $10 million bonus.
Couples will likely choose from between Haas, who finished 12th in the Presidents Cup standings; No. 11 Brandt Snedeker and rookie Keegan Bradley, who has won twice this year, including the PGA Championship. Couples has already announced that Tiger Woods will get the other Captain’s Pick for the biennial matches that will be held in November at Royal Melbourne.
Haas, for his part, is just happy to have put himself in serious consideration. Bradley tied for 11th on Sunday while Snedeker was tied for 16th.
"I’m not going to say it gets me to Australia," Haas said. "It definitely puts me in the talk up there with some of the guys that everybody has been talking about. I did what I could do. I would love to represent the United States in the Presidents Cup and play for Fred Couples, and I just wanted to play well today because I knew if I didn’t play well I could easily play my way out of that talk."
Complicating the situation a little bit right now is the fact that Haas’ father Jay is one of Couples’ assistant captains. "I’m going to stay out of it and I told Fred that same thing for the last couple of weeks," the elder Haas said as he waited for the awards ceremony to begin.
Jay Haas has played on two Presidents Cup teams and is serving as an assistant captain for the second time this year. His son understands that Couples faces a difficult decision.
"It would be easy to say that he’s getting favored or he didn’t get picked because he didn’t want to look like he was favored," Bill Haas said. "It could work both ways. However the media wants to spin it, it could be spun as Jay Haas’s son got picked as opposed to Bill Haas got picked. But I think winning here helps eliminate that, and that was all I wanted to do, play well, play solid, do what I could do for myself to be looked at as a possible pick.
"Like I said, I’d love to represent the United States and go down and play The Presidents Cup. I think it would be a memory of a lifetime and an experience and just another stepping stone for me to try to get better because I definitely have a lot of room to go."
Jay Haas had 67 texts within minutes after the final putt dropped. Several came from his long-time friend Curtis Strange — "Proud of your boy, congrats, happy for you guys," he said — as well as Couples and the other assistant captain, NBA great Michael Jordan. Haas thumbed through his iPhone as he talked about how excited he was that his son had a chance to make the American team.
"I know he was really disappointed last week to shoot 42 on the back nine when he could’ve finished if off there," Jay Haas said. "So I’m doubly proud of him for coming back this week and playing well and coming back from yesterday’s finish too, a bogey, double-bogey finish when he was tied for the lead. I think that says a lot for him. It’s hard to overlook that.
"You’d think if Brandt Snedeker or Keegan Bradley or Bill wins this tournament they should get that spot, perhaps. But again, I’m going to stay out of it. You can second guess. Any of these 30 guys, the Americans that are here would be a good pick."
Jay Haas also said he likes the passion he sees in the younger players like the three prime candidates for the final U.S. pick.
“I know Keegan’s comments were that I think about it every third hole and I think that’s great,” Haas said. “I think that is great that the young guys really want to be on those teams. It means so much to them, Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. …
"I think that’s great for the American tour and there’s so many great young guys that are capable and the group’s kind of turning over a little bit."
10:18 pm
Mahan doomed by putter on Sunday
By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM
ATLANTA — From tee to green, Hunter Mahan had the kind of day that could have won him the FedExCup. On the green, however, he ultimately had the kind of day that cost him the TOUR’s biggest prize.
Officially, Mahan lost on the third hole of a playoff to Bill Haas for the TOUR Championship at East Lake. But unofficially, it will be Mahan’s putting that gets the blame.
"I couldn’t have been happier with the way I played," said Mahan, who entered the day as the 54-hole co-leader with Aaron Baddeley. "I just can’t make a putt. I didn’t have my first birdie until 15 and I had a ton of looks. They were close, too.
"Just didn’t make a putt."
In shooting a final-round 1-over 71 on Sunday, Mahan hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation. But he needed 33 putts on the day — an amount that tied for 27th in the 30-man field.
Mahan had four putts inside of 10 feet in regulation that he missed. Make one of those, and he wins the TOUR Championship in regulation.
On the final playoff hole, he missed a 15-footer for par that would have extended the playoff.
"I feel like I hit good putts," Mahan said. "I didn’t feel like they were bad strokes. They were just kind of misreads. Some were too high, some were too low and I could never get any kind of momentum going the right way."
Mahan was searching for his first TOUR win this year, but the fact that he came up short this week in the FedExCup finale didn’t discourage him from looking at 2011 as a positive step.
"If I’ve learned anything, I can’t be really disappointed," Mahan said. "I can’t be mad or disappointed or angry about the day. That’s not what it’s about."
And about his chance to win the FedExCup?
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be in that position again,” he said, “but it was fun.”
6:58 pm
Congratulate Haas on his win
Bill Haas won the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, defeating Hunter Mahan in a playoff, and as a result captured the FedExCup title. Send him your congratulations here and we’ll pass them along.
6:50 pm
Haas wins FedExCup, TOUR Champ.
ATLANTA – 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 $11.44 million.
“This was very unexpected, I guess,” said Haas, who said he wasn’t 100 percent sure he had won the FedExCup until after the playoff when he saw the trophy waiting for him.
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.
“I’m not going to say it gets me to Australia,” Haas said. “It definitely puts me in the talk up there with some of the guys that everybody has been talking about.”
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.
6:31 pm
Playoff hole by hole: Haas beats Mahan
Haas saves par from water
Bill Haas saved par from the edge of the water on the 17th hole to extend the playoff.
ATLANTA – Here’s a hole-by-hole look at the playoff between Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan to decide the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup with its $10 million bonus. Haas won the playoff on the third extra hole.
PLAYOFF HOLE 1 (par-3 18th)
Haas’ tee shot hits the front of the grandstand to the right of the green but bounces back into the rough behind the bunker
Mahan follows with a tee shot that finds the bunker to the right of the green.
Haas chips to inside 11 feet. That’s what he’ll have to make par.
Mahan’s bunker shot checks up 6 feet, 5 inches from the pin.
Haas rolls in the par putt, putting the pressure on Mahan.
Mahan follows with his own clutch putt to keep the playoff going.
PLAYOFF HOLE 2 (par-4 17th)
Haas finds the middle bunker down the right-hand side of the fairway with his tee shot. He’s 151 yards from the pin.
Mahan splits the fairway with his tee shot. He’s just 140 yards from the pin.
Despite a good lie, Haas’ approach shot sails to the left of the green and rolls into the water hazard. But he still has a shot to splash out, as most of the ball is sitting above the water.
Mahan plays to the middle of the green and has a 25 feet, 3 inch putt for birdie.
With one foot in the water, Haas hits a tremendous shot and gets it to stop inside 3 feet.
Mahan slides his birdie putt past the hole.
Both players make their short par putts to extend the playoff.
PLAYOFF HOLE 3 (par-3 18th)
Haas’ 4-iron off the tee lands at the back of the green and rolls against the fringe. He’s 51 feet from the pin.
Mahan immediately turns his head in disgust after hitting his 4-iron, which lands to the right of the bunker and bounces into the sand trap.
Mahan blasts his bunker shot well past the hole. He’ll be 14 feet, 11 inches from the pin.
Haas decides to use his belly putter from the fringe. He rolls it to just outside 4 feet.
Mahan’s par putt veers to the right of the hole and never had a chance.
Haas rolls in his par putt. It’s worth $11.4 million.
5:51 pm
Mahan vs. Haas for all the marbles
ATLANTA – The FedExCup and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola have finally become much clearer.
Hunter Mahan will take on Bill Haas in a sudden-death playoff, with the winner claiming the tournament title and the FedExCup title that comes with a $10 million bonus.
Mahan made a clutch par putt from inside six feet on the 72nd hole to force the playoff with Haas, who had finished 30 minutes earlier with a bogey at the 18th.
Each player will be seeking his first PGA TOUR victory this year. It will come with a huge payday.
Mahan’s record is playoffs is 1-1. Haas’ playoff record is 2-0.
Luke Donald and Webb Simpson, the two players who could have won the FedExCup without winning the tournament, were officially closed out on the final hole.
The sudden-death playoff will start at the par-3 18th hole, then go to the par-4 17th, then back to the 18th if necessary.
5:45 pm
Day, Choi come up short
ATLANTA – Jason Day and K.J. Choi came up short in their bids to win the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup trophy.
Day bogeyed his last two holes to finish at 6 under.
“Obviously I’m a little disappointed that I bogeyed the last two holes,” Day said, “but I was trying to win out there. Anything other than a win was going to be disappointing for me.”
Choi could only manage par on the final hole and finished at 7 under.
Choi said that Sunday was “very hard for me” and that he was not comfortable on the greens. He said he was “a little disappointed” in his game.
5:20 pm
Haas, Donald finished; now they wait
ATLANTA – Bill Haas bogeyed his last hole to drop into a tie for the lead at 8 under with Jason Day and Hunter Mahan.
Meanwhile, playing partner Luke Donald birdied the 18th to move into a tie for fourth.
Both players still have a chance at winning the FedExCup, depending on how the final leaderboard shakes out. Should Day and Mahan each drop a shot coming in, Haas could win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and Donald could win the FedExCup.
Donald needs to finish no lower than solo third and have Haas win. Donald made a late push with three birdies in his last five holes.
“As they say, every shot counts,” Donald said. “At least I gave myself a chance.”
If, however, the leaderboard stays as it is, with Donald still tied for fourth, then either Haas, Day or Mahan will win the FedExCup by winning the tournament.
Aaron Baddeley and K.J. Choi could also still be factors – both players are tied for Donald at 7 under and could move ahead of Donald.
5:01 pm
Leaderboard update: two-shot swing
ATLANTA – That three-shot lead held by Bill Haas didn’t last long.
Haas bogeyed the par-4 16th while Jason Day birdied the par-5 15th after nearly rolling in an eagle putt.
Day is now just one shot behind Haas. If Day can catch Haas and win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, he would likely win the FedExCup.
The only scenario in which Day wins the tournament and doesn’t win the FedExCup is if Luke Donald finishes solo second. Donald is currently tied for fifth with two holes to play.
4:48 pm
FedExCup update: Haas vs. Donald
ATLANTA – Bill Haas has seized control of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. He now has a three-shot lead as he heads to his final three holes.
If Haas wants to win the FedExCup, though, it could all come down to his playing partner, Luke Donald.
If Donald finishes in solo third or better, he would have enough FedExCup points to overtake Haas. Donald is currently tied for sixth, but he’s only one shot behind in moving up high enough on the leaderboard to overtake Haas.
If Donald can birdie at least one of the last three holes, that might be good enough to get him the FedExCup – regardless of what Haas does.
In fact, Haas would need to hope that other players behind him, such as Charles Howell III, Jason Day, Hunter Mahan and Aaron Baddeley, can stay ahead of Donald on the leaderboard.
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