Bill Haas parred the third hole of a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to defeat fellow American Hunter Mahan and win the US PGA Tour Championship as well as a $10 million season playoff bonus. Haas, who made a jaw-dropping escape from water on the second extra hole, took home $1.4 million for the event victory plus the $10 FedExCup bonus, winning more money in one day than his father Jay won in his entire PGA career. “This is pretty unbelievable,” the younger Haas said. “I’m very fortunate.”
Mahan settled for $1.5 million in runner-up and bonus money after losing the richest one-hole showdown in history and the longest playoff in the 25-year Tour Championship history.
“I just hung in there. Very fortunate,” Haas said. “This is unexpected.” After saving par on the 17th in the playoff with a chip shot to an elevated green, Haas was in fairway short of the green on the third playoff hole, the par-3 18th, while Mahan found a bunker right of the green. Mahan blasted 15 feet past the cup while Haas putted to within four feet. Mahan rolled his par putt three feet past the cup and Haas sank his putt to win a king’s ransom, raising his right fist in victory. Haas entered the 30-man, season-ending event 25th in points but finished on top, 15 ahead of American Webb Simpson, who led entering the week. World No. 1 Luke Donald of England was third, 103 points back.
“All I could do was win and hope everything fell into place,” Haas said. “This worked out for me. I’m very fortunate.” The playoff began at the par-3 18th with Haas hitting into the grandstand and dropping in the rough. Mahan followed by finding a right front bunker.
Haas chipped to 10 feet and sank the putt while Mahan blasted out to six feet and parred to extend the playoff to the par-4 17th, where Haas made a miraculous rescue. After finding a fairway bunker, Haas put his second shot left off a 10-foot plateaued green and just into the edge of a water hazard while Mahan found the center of the green 25 feet from the cup. Haas blasted his third shot to a stop four feet from the cup, the crowd roaring in approval, and each man parred to set up the last playoff hole.
