La Quinta, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Bill Haas made a couple big birdies and
saved some huge pars down the stretch on Sunday to shoot a final-round 67 and
win the Humana Challenge by one shot over five others.
Haas finished the week at 22-under-par 266 to win for the sixth time on the
PGA Tour. This is Haas’ second victory at this event, which he also won back
in 2010.
Coming down to the par-5 last hole on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA
West, Haas needed a par to win. A bogey by the 32-year-old would have forced a
six-way playoff, which would have tied a tour record. Haas was able to
scramble for par and the win.
Second-round leader and highest ranked player in the field Matt Kuchar
finished with a 5-under 67 and he ended tied for second along with Charley
Hoffman (64), Brendan Steele (64), Sung Joon Park (65) and Steve Wheatcroft
(67) at 21-under 267.
Rookie Justin Thomas, who shared the third-round lead with Haas, Erik Compton
and first-round leader Michael Putnam, finished with a 3-under 69 and tied for
seventh with Webb Simpson (64) and Boo Weekley (65) at minus-20.
Compton could not make enough birdies down the stretch and he carded a 2-under
70 to finish tied for 10th at 19-under 269. Putnam (72) ended two shots behind
Compton at 17-under 271, tying him for 15th.
Defending champion Patrick Reed needed a big day on Sunday to successfully
defend his title, but he fired a 1-under 71 to finish tied for 24th at 15-
under 273 with Phil Mickelson (68) and four others.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
