Haas Secures Second Humana Challenge Title


Despite a bad drive on the par-5 18th hole, Bill Haas had just enough of a cushion to win the Humana Challenge. The $5.7 million PGA Tour event was played on three courses in California's Coachella Valley - the Palmer Private at PGA West (the host course and site of Sunday's final round), Nicklaus Private at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club.

Haas, among three co-leaders - Erik Compton, Justin Thomas and Michael Putnam were the others - after 54 holes, closed with a 5-under 67 to finish at 22-under 266, a stroke ahead of 2007 champion Charley Hoffman (64), Brendan Steele (64), Steve Wheatcroft (67) and Matt Kuchar (67), and South Korean Sung Joon Park (65).

While the other players at 21-under were in the clubhouse after completing their rounds and with a one-stroke lead starting the 18th, Haas sent his drive to the right, his ball stopping on the lip on the far side of a deep bunker. Standing in the sand and swinging an 8-iron like a baseball bat at the ball sitting thigh-high, Haas swatted it 125 yards down the fairway. From there, he hit a 7-iron to 20 feet and two-putted for the win.

Haas didn't have many expectations entering the tournament, which he'd won in 2010. "I called my wife before the week started and told her I didn't think I was going to be able to score this week . . . This is unbelievable. This is great."

Yet, before his closing 67 Haas posted rounds of 67, 63 and 69 to stay in contention throughout the week. "I was grinding out there till the end," he said at greenside. "The putter bailed me out."

Haas, who closed with four birdies, an eagle on the par-5 sixth and a bogey en route to earning $1.026 million and 500 FedEx Cup points, maintained his equanimity after the misfortune at the 72nd hole. "It was a bad drive. I could have easily whiffed that second shot. I'm glad I got it down the fairway."

Tied for seventh at 20-under were Webb Simpson (64), Boo Weekley (65) and Thomas (69). Thomas, a 21-year-old rookie coming off a stellar collegiate career at Alabama, was making only his second Tour start this week.

Sharing 10th at minus-19 were Compton (70), Ryan Palmer (69) and Colt Knost, and Italy's Francesco Molinari (67). Knost fired Sunday's low round of 9-under 63. The 29-year-old Texan posted six birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to soar up the leaderboard.

Nick Watney took solo 14th at 18-under, while Putnam carded a 72 to drop into a tie for 15th at 17-under with fellow Americans Shawn Stefani (67) and Lucas Glover (68), Scotland's Martin Laird (69) and Czech Alex Cejka (69).

In his 2015 debut, Phil Mickelson - a two-time Humana winner - recorded his second straight 68 to finish at 15-under, tying for 24th with five others, including defending champion Patrick Reed (71).

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