Rookie Haas delivers best Tour finish

He ties for 4th to dad Jay's delight

This might have been the quickest signature Jay Haas ever applied to a scorecard.

He was one group ahead of his son, Bill, following a disappointing 4-over-par day, and he wanted to salvage something by seeing his kid succeed.

So he zipped into the scorer's trailer, then back to the hill above the 18th green, just in time to see Bill Haas finish tied for fourth in the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club on Sunday

A rookie, it was his best finish on the PGA Tour. He shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday and finished five shots behind winner Jim Furyk.

"He traveled with me some (before turning pro), so he knows what this is all about," said Jay Haas. "Early in the year he was probably pressing a little bit ... but I saw an interview where he said his expectations are even higher than what other people think."

Both Haases live in Greenville, S.C., and attended Wake Forest. At 52, Jay might have already hit more professional shots than his son, 23, ever will. Having trailed his father around various courses helps, but only to a point.

"Maybe more outside the ropes," Bill said of the advantage. "Not when you have to hit a shot -- I'd love to have him taking those (pressure shots). But in the locker room or when to eat or where to be, sure it helps."

Sunday was as much a fight with the elements as with the other players, but Bill Haas wonders if all the rain helped distract him from the importance of the moment. His best previous finish this year was a tie for 15th in New Orleans last week.

"(The rain) could've helped me because I was moving around the umbrella and trying to keep my hands dry' instead of standing around being nervous between shots.

The stress caught up to him on the 17th tee, just about the time the rain took a break. The 17th is a long par-3 where the green is surrounded by water.

"I was nervous on 17, I guess, because there's water and a lot of things can happen," Bill Haas said. "For some reason, making bogey on 17 loosened me up."

It loosened him up for a birdie on 18 that was ultimately worth $277, 200.

"You get top 10 out here a few times and it takes the pressure off," Haas said. "There's a lot of events left and I can make some money other weeks, but it's nice to make big chunks sometimes."

RICK BONNELL
rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com

Provider:
Knight-Ridder Digital / Charlotte Observer