Just like dad, Bill Haas wins Hope Classic

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Golf forced patience upon Bill Haas over the last half-decade, and then it rewarded him on the final hole of a marathon week at the Bob Hope Classic.

After playing 140 PGA Tour events without a victory, Haas persevered through 6 days and five rounds across four courses before going to the final tee yesterday in a three-way tie for the lead. That's where a slightly impatient shot clinched his first trophy - and put him next to his father in Hope Classic history.

Haas gave himself a short birdie putt on the 18th by executing an aggressive approach shot after his two co-leaders couldn't do it. With his hands cold and shaking, he hit the 1-footer to finish one stroke ahead of Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark and Bubba Watson with an 8-under 64.

"I'd been wanting to win from the first tournament I played, but it's a process, and there's a lot to it," Haas said.

The son of 1988 Hope Classic champion Jay Haas was the last of three co-leaders to play the par-5 18th. Kuchar and South Africa's Clark had both missed birdie putts. Haas, 27, expertly dropped a 3-iron behind the pin, allowing him to two-putt his way to a 30-under 330 finish, and the $900,000 winner's check.

"Patience isn't one of my key virtues," Bill Haas said. "It's something I'm still trying to learn. This week, we were forced to be patient. Who knows? Maybe the rainout was good for me."

Thanks to the rain that washed out the second round at the Hope Classic and pushed the finale to yesterday, Jay Haas was able to make it back from his Champions Tour event in Hawaii in time to see his son in competition for the first time in about 2 years.

"To win the same tournament I won is special, and then for me to get to see it - that's really special," said Jay Haas, who texted Bill on Sunday night: "Hit when you're ready, and never before." *