Bill Haas wins Humana Challenge title

Bill Haas took the title after a scare at the final hole of the Humana Challenge.

Haas parred the final hole, but not after giving himself problems with a wayward tee shot eventually landing on the short rough on the edge of a bunker.

The 32-year old American claimed his sixth PGA Tour title having carded a final round 67 to finish the tournament at -22 266, 1 stroke ahead of a group of five that included Americans Matt Kuchar and Charlie Hoffman.

Kuchar could have forced a playoff with the eventual champion Haas, but was unable to hole from 10-yards on the par-5 18th and remained on -21 for the tournament.

Speaking of the miss, Kuchar said: “It was pretty disappointing to be that close and not at least birdie the 18th; to make Bill try to make birdie to win.”

Although the win came as a surprise to even Haas himself: “I didn’t think I’d be able to score this week,” Haas said. 

“I was really struggling hitting it where I wanted to hit it (but the) putter was unbelievably hot the first few days.

“Today, still I was fighting (my swing). I was grinding it out until the end. This is unbelievable.”
I didn’t think I’d be able to score this week Elsewhere, playing in his first event since the Ryder Cup, Phil Mickelson recorded the most birdies in the tournament, but was hampered by recording 11 bogeys to end -15 and 24th on the overall leaderboard.

2002 and 2004 Humana winner Mickelson said: “I’ve got some things to improve on, but it was a good week to kind of build a foundation.”

“I’m really excited for this upcoming year. I feel I’m ready to go, ready to get started. It was a good week this week, but some of the fine tuning needs to get just a little bit sharper.”

Full leaderboard details can be found here.

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