Haas performs miracle shot en-route to FedEx Cup glory
September 26, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
Bill Haas produced a stunning Hail Mary shot at the second extra hole of a playoff with Hunter Mahan to save par, and the miracle shot propelled the 29-year old son of Jay Haas onto winning the high stakes Tour Championship.
And not only did Haas trouser $1.44million for his win, he also pocketed the $10million winner’s check as he became the FedEx Cup champion in the process.
Haas had to dig deep to fend off Ryder Cup player Mahan, after he let slip a three shot lead coming off the 15th hole with bogeys at the 16th and 18th holes to let Mahan tie him at 8-under par and force a playoff after Mahan saved par on the final hole.
Replaying the par-3 18th hole for the first time, the pressure of $10million seemed to weigh heavily on both players. Haas went well right off the tee, clattering into the stands while Mahan came up short and into the bunker before splashing to six feet. Haas meanwhile chipped to 10 feet and holed the par putt, and was promptly followed in by Mahan.
Heading to the 17th, Haas found the bunker down the right side of the fairway from the tee while Mahan found the fairway and shot to 15 feet. Haas’ second edged left and landed in the lake, potentially ending Haas’ challenge.
However, when he got to his ball, he found it only partially submerged and elected to play the shot. Playing the shot akin to a bunker shot, Haas’ ball pitched out of the water and spun close to the flag, stopping inside 3 feet. It was a body blow for Mahan and he missed his winning putt on the high side of the hole.
Returning to the 18th again, Haas went to the left of the green this time, while Mahan again found the sand. A poor sand recovery from Mahan saw him scuttle past the hole by some 15 feet, while Haas chipped inside 3 feet; Mahan missed the return leaving Haas to play out for par and lift the series.
A poor performance by top-ranked Webb Simpson, meant that anyone in the field – with the exception of Aaron Baddeley – would take top-spot with a win. Haas became the lowest ranked player to lift the FedEx Cup, having started the Tour Championship in 25th place and joins a distinguished roll-call of winners, which includes 2-time FedEx Cup champion Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk.
Luke Donald finished in a tie for third place, alongside K.J Choi and Baddeley. The world number one might have won the FedEx Cup himself had he finished no worse than a three-way tie for 2nd, but pars at the final hole by both Baddeley and Mahan saw the Englishman miss out on the jackpot. Choi could have joined the playoff himself but missed the birdie chance that would have put him into a share of the lead, while Charles Howell III and Jason Day could also failed to find the necessary last-hole birdie to join the extra-time shootout.
First it was Golf Boys, now meet the Golf Girls!
June 27, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
Recently we told you about the charity song that was put together by PGA Tour players Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson.
Entitled ‘Oh Oh Oh’ the song was sponsored by Farmers Insurance, who promised to donate $1,000 for every 100,000 views the video received. If you haven’t already seen it, then you can view the video here.
But now it seems the boys have a rival, after Ladies European Tour players Sophie Giquel, Sophie Sandolo, Jades Schaeffer and Cassandra Kirkland recreated the song and video under the band-name ‘Golf Girls Official’.
Travelers Championship Betting Preview
June 23, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
The PGA Tour leaves Maryland behind and heads to Connecticut and TPC River Highlands for this week’s event, the Travelers Championship. Unsurprisingly, last week’s US Open winner Rory McIlroy isn’t among the field and instead headed home to Northern Ireland to celebrate his success.
TPC River Highlands is a short layout by PGA Tour standards measuring at less than 7,000 yards and the longer players off the tee tend to do well here. Last year’s winner Bubba Watson emphasised that trend, although he had to do it in a playoff against Scott Verplank – not renowned for distance from the tee.
The Making of… The Golf Boys – Oh Oh Oh
June 15, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
If you enjoyed the official video of The Golf Boys – ‘Oh Oh Oh’ song, featuring Ben Crane and fellow PGA Tour pros Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson then get ready for another surprise.
For Crane has also published a fly-on-the-wall documentary taking you behind the scenes of the video – from concept to wardrobe, recording the track to filming the video and interview soundbytes with the four players.
Meet the Golf Boys!
June 15, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
They have nine PGA Tour wins between them and regularly play well whenever they tee it up.
Three of them have also represented the United States in the Ryder Cup. And all four will be in the field for this week’s US Open at Congressional Country Club.
The season’s second major has given serial PGA Tour prankster Ben Crane the perfect platform to release the latest in his line of entertaining videos, but this he has enlisted some help – in addition to Crane, the video also includes Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson.
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