Bill Haas came from behind to win the Northern Trust Open in dramatic fashion on Sunday. Haas made a 45-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) to earn his first victory of 2012.
It looked like Haas's round of 2-under (69) on Sunday would be enough to claim victory in regulation. Haas made birdie on the 17th hole after making back-to-back bogies on 12 and 13 to take the outright lead. After his round he went to the range as 54-hole leaders Mickelson and Bradley battled it out.
Both Mickelson and Bradley needed to make birdie on the 18th to shoot even par and force a playoff. Mickelson left himself a 25-foot putt while Bradley needed only 12-feet. As they both dropped their putts the crowd went wild and Haas, who was on the range, knew they were headed to a playoff.
Haas was the only player to hit the green in regulation on the second playoff hole, the 10th hole, a 315 yard par 4. His tee shot landed left of the green and forced Haas to "lay up" to 45-feet away. Mickelson and Bradley had the chance to tie but Mickelson, from a greenside bunker, came up short while Bradley burned the edge of the cup with his putt from just off the green.
The win earns Haas $1,188,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points. It's his fourth career PGA Tour victory and marks his third consecutive season with a win.
Northern Trust Open News
Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) shot a 7-under (64) on Sunday to finish in a tie for 4th place. It was Garcia's first start of the 2012 season and first top 10 finish in the United States since he finished in 7th at the 2011 U.S. Open.
Luke Donald (@LukeDonald), the worlds top ranked golfer, was 6-over (78) during his final round on Sunday. His first PGA Tour event of the season left him in a tie for 56th. Donald has finished in the top 25 in his previous eight PGA Tour starts dating back to July of last season.
The PGA Tour is split next week as players head to Mexico and Arizona. In Mexico, Johnson Wagner looks to defend his 2011 Mayakoba Golf Classic title while Luke Donald will try to defend his World Golf Championship- Accenture Match Play title in Arizona.
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