Haas draws on family tradition to take early Masters lead

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Bill Haas has played in the Masters four previous times. He'd never broken 70, never finished better than 20th and never been higher than 11th after a round.

His best finish in 12 other major starts as a professional was 12th at the 2011 PGA.

But he has won five times since 2010, including the 2011 Tour Championship, with the most recent coming last July.

Yesterday at Augusta National, the 31-year-old South Carolinian opened with a 4-under-par 68 to grab a one-shot lead over defending champion Adam Scott, 2012 winner Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, the guy Watson beat in a playoff after 18 holes.

Haas opened birdie-bogey and closed the same way. In between he added birds at 4, 7, 13 and 14.

At last week's Houston Open, he led after one round but ended up 37th.

"You've just got to go out there and try to hit that first fairway tomorrow," he said.

His great-uncle Bob Goalby won a green jacket in 1968, when Roberto DeVicenzo was penalized a stroke for signing an incorrect scorecard to lose by one. His father Jay played in this event 22 times, finishing tied for third in 1995. He's now big on the Champions Tour.

"It's been a special place in our family," Haas said. "We came most of the years. I can remember [1995] like it was yesterday. It does not seem that long ago.

"I think we are both our biggest fans. We're staying together this week. He was on the range with me this morning and hopefully he hasn't left. He's my ride home.

"I never remember thinking, 'Man, I wish I could hit this shot for my dad.' But I do know that there's sometimes now I wish my dad could hit this shot for me. I think we're both our biggest fans. [But] I don't beat him much, honestly."

His uncle Jerry also was 31st here as an amateur in 1985, his only Masters. Another uncle, Dillard Pruitt, played twice and finished 13th in 1992.

"I guess so," said Haas, when asked whether this place was in his blood. "I caddied here for my dad when he played with Sergio [Garcia] in his first Masters [1999] . . . [But] I wasn't interested in the Masters; I was interested in my dad's score at the Masters, if that makes sense."

He played this course for the first time when he was in high school, through a friend of his dad's who was a member. His brother (Jay Jr.) was the fourth member of the group. He's also been his caddie for a few years. But last week Haas started using Scott Gneiser, who carried David Tom's bag when he won the 2001 PGA.

"I think I needed a change," Haas said. "He was available, and he's been under the gun [in] a lot of big events. He's seen it. I don't think he can do anything but help me. I've known him since I've been out here. I was lucky he was available for a few weeks.

"He wants to do well. I certainly confide in him just like I would have [with] my brother. It's just nothing, no certain reason why my brother is not working and Scottie is. It's just the way it is right now."

Only three have won back-to-back: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, who, of course, isn't here after undergoing back surgery last week.

Since 1985, only one first-round leader has gone on to win, Trevor Immelman in 2008.

Scott had five birds and a double bogey at 12, where he put a 9-iron into the wet stuff fronting the green.

"There's no doubt that winning last year [his first major] had me a little more comfortable on the first tee than I've ever been in the past," acknowledged the first champ from Australia. "So that was enjoyable. I didn't have the legs shaking and nerves jangling for six or seven holes like usual. I had the one poor shot. It's actually the first time I've ever hit it into that creek."

Scott, who was second in 2011, also opened with a 69 last April.

"Last year in some ways has taken a little pressure off me," he said. "I kind of felt the worst that could happen [is], I'm still going to be a Masters champion."

As the host of Tuesday's Champions Dinner, he served artichoke and arugula salad with grilled calamari, Australian wagyu New York strip steak, and strawberry and passion-fruit pavlova.

"I was nervous," Scott said. "I had no idea what to expect. A couple of guys were winding me up, asking whether I had picked my song. I may be a little gullible. I had to speak, and that's certainly emotional. I decided to be really short and sincere and not get caught up in it at all. But to address a room like that is a great honor. The words they had to say about what I did last year meant the world to me."

Watson, who came in late, had three birds and zero bogeys. Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champ, closed with his sixth bird, but dropped a stroke on 1, 12 and 17.

Seven are at 70, including first-timers Kevin Stadler, Jason Blixt and Jimmy Walker, the PGA Tour's only three-time winner this season. Stadler needed 12 shots fewer than his dad Craig, your 1982 champ. This is the first time a father and son have played together in the Masters. Brandt Snedeker, last year's third-round leader, is also at 2-under.

"My whole goal . . . I'm not trying to look at leaderboards," Watson said. "I don't want to give my secret, but I'm trying to just hit greens. Whatever that comes out [to]. Today, I missed two. One by 6 inches, one by 3 feet. I putted both and made pars. Throw in a birdie here and there. That's what I did."

Among the eight at 71 are 54-year-old former champ Fred Couples, who always plays well, 20-year-old Jordan Spieth and two-time major winner Rory McIlroy.

"Just go out and have fun," said Oosthuizen, who's been nursing a sore back. "Some days it's good, some days it's not. So I'm managing it pretty good, knowing what I should and shouldn't do. One of the things is probably not to pick up my little girl running towards me. That's tough not to do."