GOLF Haas hoping Funai changes fortunes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One look at the leaderboard Thursday in the Funai Classic made it abundantly clear who had work on their mind at Disney's sprawling amusement Mecca, with no greater example than Hunter Haas.
Headed to the second stage of qualifying school unless he can quickly change his fortunes, Haas shot a 9-under 63 on the easier Palm Course, his career low on the PGA Tour, to take a one-shot lead in the first round over a group of players who also have a lot riding on this week.
Among those at 64 were Ryan Moore, who is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods to skip Q-school and go straight from college to a job on the PGA Tour. He was joined by Mark Calcavecchia, who feels far less pressure because he's No. 27 on the money list and is trying only to get into the Tour Championship.
Easier course
On a steamy day across the street from the Magic Kingdom, they all took advantage of calm conditions and being on the Palm course, which played more than two shots easier than the longer, tougher Magnolia.
"It's a grind out here," Haas said. "I wish I'd have a million dollars in the bank and have my card locked up and just be out there playing, trying to make some more money or get a victory. Sometimes, things work out in funny ways. Maybe this is the week."
Charles Howell III and Nick Price were at 65, two other guys on various bubbles. Howell tied for sixth last week in Las Vegas to move up to No. 30 on the money list, while Price is at No. 120 and might have to use a one-time exemption for career money if the Hall of Famer doesn't keep his card.
Tiger Woods has no worries, although the par 5s gave him fits.
Coming off a victory two weeks ago in the American Express Championship, Woods shot a 68 on the Palm course while struggling on the par 5s, all of which are easily reachable in two shots. One tee shot went into a hazard, another into a bunker, another into the rough, and he never gave himself a good look.
"I butchered the par 5s," Woods said.
He'll survive, with nearly $10 million in earnings this year.
That isn't the case for Haas, who came into the Funai Classic at No. 166 on the money list with $353,173. He likely will need at least $250,000 over the final three weeks to avoid going to the second stage of Q-school. He is aware of this because of the Q-school application he found in his locker about two months ago.
Grind on his mind
That's when he started to feel the grind of keeping his card.
"I don't know how to explain what the feeling is like, but it (stinks)," he said. "When you're looking at numbers and the money and where you're at, about that time you're starting to figure it out and do the math and crunch numbers. Then you realize it."
Moore, the former U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion at UNLV, is playing on sponsor exemptions. He already has earned enough money to be equal to No. 121 on the money list, and he will get his PGA Tour card as long as he finishes the season the equivalent of No. 125 or better.
Pressure?
Moore, who doesn't have a swing coach and oozes confidence, sure doesn't feel it. Asked about the prospects of going to Q-school, the 22-year-old brushed it off.
"I'm not going to have to worry about it, hopefully," he said. "I have signed up for Q-school, and I do have my entry form just in case, and I put that in a long time ago before all this happened. But all I can is go play tomorrow and see what happens."
Mallorca Classic
SON SERVERA, Mallorca -- Jonathan Lomas shot a 5-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday over Gary Murphy and Mark Foster after the first round.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner of this event two years ago, Paul Broadhurst, Sam Little, John Bickerton and Simon Khan were another stroke back after 67s. The favorite and defending champion Sergio Garcia shot 69.
Despite the distance of the 6,676-yard layout at Pula Golf Club, players found the course largely unchanged despite a partial redesign by Jose Maria Olazabal.
Murphy chipped in from 20 feet for a birdie at the 17th hole, his eighth hole, and rolled in a 12-foot putt for a birdie on his final hole.