Jay Haas birdied the last two holes on Sunday en route to a course-record-tying six-under 64 and the come-from-behind victory over Tom Watson at the Senior Players Championship.
Haas earned his third senior major title at 13-under 267 for the one-stroke victory over Watson, who managed an even-par 70 on Sunday at Baltimore Country Club East Course.
Haas and Watson were tied at 11-under par until Watson sank a 30-footer for birdie at the 15th hole to move one ahead. Haas, who played in the group ahead of Watson, rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the 17th to knot the two atop the leaderboard.
At the very demanding closing hole, Haas found the fairway off the tee. He had 195 yards and hit a six-iron right of the flagstick, but the slope ran the ball inside three feet. Haas converted the short birdie putt to move one ahead, then waited as Watson had to play 18.
The third-round leader hit a costly drive into the right rough off the final hole. Watson did all he could to get the ball just short of the putting surface.
Watson needed to hole his pitch to force a playoff with Haas. Watson's ball ran 15 feet past on left side and the title was Haas' after an amazing Sunday 64.
"Today, I don't think I could have played any better," acknowledged Haas, who pocketed $405,000 for the win. "I didn't expect this. I was hoping that I could shoot something like this, but I didn't expect to do it in this wind."
For Watson, it's yet another disappointment.
There was the 2007 U.S. Senior Open where Watson had a three-shot lead after 54 holes, but shot a 78 on Sunday and finished fourth.
Most recently of course was this year's British Open. Watson had the chance to become the oldest major winner in history and write the greatest golf story of all time. He had the 54-hole lead and the lead on 18, but made bogey and lost a playoff to Stewart Cink.
On Sunday, in challenging conditions, Watson shot even-par with a four-shot lead overnight and with a five-stroke margin over Haas. It could've been enough if it weren't for a course record from Haas.
In true Watson form, he holed a 15-footer for par on the last, even after Haas won the championship.
"I didn't play aggressive golf today," admitted Watson. "I didn't make as many good swings today. Give credit where credit is due. Jay birdied the last two holes on this tough golf course. That's pretty darn good."
Haas was pretty darn good from the beginning. At the third and fourth holes, he rolled in four-foot birdie putts and missed an even shorter putt for birdie at five.
Haas sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the 10th and that got him within one of Watson's lead. Watson had a wild front nine that included three bogeys and two birdies.
At the 14th, Haas hit his approach to four feet and he holed the birdie putt to join Watson in first at 11-under par. Watson made the long birdie at 15 to go ahead, then it was a masterful finish by Haas that won the title.
From Maryland, Haas has a cross-country flight ahead of him to celebrate. Haas is one of American captain Fred Couples' assistants at next week's Presidents Cup at Harding Park in California.
"It'll be a good week for me," said Haas. "I just love being around those guys. I love the team atmosphere. Hanging with them all week is going to be awesome and coming off the last couple of weeks for me, it couldn't get any better."
Haas picked up his first win of the 2009 season in his last start two weeks ago at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Sunday's victory was his 14th on the Champions Tour.
Senior British Open winner Loren Roberts and Mark Wiebe both shot matching rounds of one-over 71 and shared third place at minus-seven. Bernhard Langer (68) and John Cook (72) tied for fifth at six-under 274.
U.S. Senior Open champion Fred Funk (67) and Phil Blackmar (70) shared seventh at five-under 275.
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Haas earned his third senior major title at 13-under 267 for the one-stroke victory over Watson, who managed an even-par 70 on Sunday at Baltimore Country Club East Course.
Haas and Watson were tied at 11-under par until Watson sank a 30-footer for birdie at the 15th hole to move one ahead. Haas, who played in the group ahead of Watson, rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the 17th to knot the two atop the leaderboard.
At the very demanding closing hole, Haas found the fairway off the tee. He had 195 yards and hit a six-iron right of the flagstick, but the slope ran the ball inside three feet. Haas converted the short birdie putt to move one ahead, then waited as Watson had to play 18.
The third-round leader hit a costly drive into the right rough off the final hole. Watson did all he could to get the ball just short of the putting surface.
Watson needed to hole his pitch to force a playoff with Haas. Watson's ball ran 15 feet past on left side and the title was Haas' after an amazing Sunday 64.
"Today, I don't think I could have played any better," acknowledged Haas, who pocketed $405,000 for the win. "I didn't expect this. I was hoping that I could shoot something like this, but I didn't expect to do it in this wind."
For Watson, it's yet another disappointment.
There was the 2007 U.S. Senior Open where Watson had a three-shot lead after 54 holes, but shot a 78 on Sunday and finished fourth.
Most recently of course was this year's British Open. Watson had the chance to become the oldest major winner in history and write the greatest golf story of all time. He had the 54-hole lead and the lead on 18, but made bogey and lost a playoff to Stewart Cink.
On Sunday, in challenging conditions, Watson shot even-par with a four-shot lead overnight and with a five-stroke margin over Haas. It could've been enough if it weren't for a course record from Haas.
In true Watson form, he holed a 15-footer for par on the last, even after Haas won the championship.
"I didn't play aggressive golf today," admitted Watson. "I didn't make as many good swings today. Give credit where credit is due. Jay birdied the last two holes on this tough golf course. That's pretty darn good."
Haas was pretty darn good from the beginning. At the third and fourth holes, he rolled in four-foot birdie putts and missed an even shorter putt for birdie at five.
Haas sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the 10th and that got him within one of Watson's lead. Watson had a wild front nine that included three bogeys and two birdies.
At the 14th, Haas hit his approach to four feet and he holed the birdie putt to join Watson in first at 11-under par. Watson made the long birdie at 15 to go ahead, then it was a masterful finish by Haas that won the title.
From Maryland, Haas has a cross-country flight ahead of him to celebrate. Haas is one of American captain Fred Couples' assistants at next week's Presidents Cup at Harding Park in California.
"It'll be a good week for me," said Haas. "I just love being around those guys. I love the team atmosphere. Hanging with them all week is going to be awesome and coming off the last couple of weeks for me, it couldn't get any better."
Haas picked up his first win of the 2009 season in his last start two weeks ago at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Sunday's victory was his 14th on the Champions Tour.
Senior British Open winner Loren Roberts and Mark Wiebe both shot matching rounds of one-over 71 and shared third place at minus-seven. Bernhard Langer (68) and John Cook (72) tied for fifth at six-under 274.
U.S. Senior Open champion Fred Funk (67) and Phil Blackmar (70) shared seventh at five-under 275.
miamiherald.com
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