You are viewing: September 2011
Haas Wins the Tour Championship and Season Long FedEx Cup Race
26/09/2011
Bill Haas had experienced playoff heartbreak twice this season but in his third attempt at this year's Tour Championship, with so much at stake, Haas would prove his metal as a clutch performer.
Beginning the day three strokes off of the 54 hole lead Haas shot a two under par 68 to force an all-FJ ICON playoff with Hunter Mahan. Haas wore a traditional all black FJ ICON shield tip while Mahan opted for the latest FJ ICON pyramid saddle pattern in all white.
On the first sudden death playoff hole Haas would miss the par three 18th green wide right. Now with little green to work and a fluffy lie Haas hit a high flop shot to the tucked pin leaving him a tricky downhill ten footer for par. Haas gently rolled the difficult putt right into the center of the cup. Mahan, not to be outdone also got up and down for par from the right green-side bunker.
Moving on to the par four 17th hole, Haas drove his ball into a fairway bunker on the right side of the fairway. He then followed with a slightly pulled approach shot that trickled into the green-side hazard. With the ball sitting half submerged in water, ten plus feet below the green, Haas chose to play it. His result was spectacular, hitting a high, spinning shot that stopped no more then three feet from the hole. After Mahan narrowly missed his birdie bid, both players headed back to the 18th for the third time on Sunday.
Haas rifled a four iron directly at the center of the green leaving him a slick downhill putt from the back fringe. Mahan hit his tee shot into the same bunker from earlier in the playoff, only this time he failed to get up and down for par. This left Haas with a four foot putt to win THE TOUR Championship and the season-long FedEx Cup crown. Haas stuck to his routine and rolled the putt in center cut for this third career PGA Tour victory. The combined victory's earned Haas a a five year Tour exemption and a $11.4 million dollar pay day.
Simpson's Hot Streak Continues
6/09/2011
Webb Simpson (FJ ICON) now has two PGA Tour wins on his resume after winning in a playoff at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Two weeks ago Simpson broke-through at the Wyndham Championship for his first PGA Tour win.
Beginning the day two strokes off the lead, Simpson shot a front nine 30, that included four birdies and an eagle. Simpson's hot start would cool on the back nine until he rolled in a 30 foot putt for birdie on the final hole to give him a fighting chance for the win. With the leader making bogey on the final hole of regulation a playoff was set.
On the first playoff hole (par 5 18th) Simpson rolled in another lengthy birdie putt to stay alive in the tournament and force another hole. After hitting the fairway on the next, Simpson took an aggressive line at the pin to set up another birdie bid. With the other player already in with par, Simpson calmly brushed in the eight footer for the victory.
The win moves Simpson to number one in the Fed Ex Cup standings.
