Bill Haas wins at the famous Riviera Country Club for his fourth PGA Tour victory. It was also his second victory via playoff.
Haas, defending 2011 FedEx Cup champion, defeated Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in two playoff holes. All three were in awkward spots after their tee shots on the 10th hole, a short, drivable par 4.
Haas, playing first, elected to aim to the middle of the green instead of getting it close to the flag in order to have a putt for birdie. Mickelson's shot rolled off the green into a bunker on the back side. Bradley's shot stopped on the fringe behind the hole about 8 feet away.
Haas, being further away from the hole, putted first and sank a 42-foot birdie to for Mickelson and Bradley to make their shots in order to continue in the sudden death playoff. Mickelson mis-hit his shot from the bunker eliminating him from contention. Bradley's putt, however, appeared to be tracking the hole but it lost speed and dove short of the hole to make Haas the victor.
The thrill didn't begin in the playoffs however. After making his first and second 3 putts of the tournament, Phil Mickelson went on to birdie the 18th hole with a spectacular putt to send the crowd into a frenzy. Keegan Bradley, having just watched the putt and congratulating Mickelson, then had his own birdie putt to join him in the playoff. Bradley went on to make his putt and the crowd went wild again.
Haas is not unfamiliar with difficult shots on the second hole of playoffs. In the 2011 Tour Championship, Haas hit an amazing shot out of the water on the second playoff hole against Hunter Mahan to save par and force a third playoff hole, which he would win and become 11 million dollars wealthier.
Always assume Bill Haas will make a great shot during a playoff— even if it is the second hole.
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