Haas bests Mahan for title

Associated Press

ATLANTA

In the richest playoff in golf history, Bill Haas came up with the shots that matched the money.

With his ball half-submerged on the bank of a lake, Haas blasted out of the water to about 3 feet to save par on the second playoff hole against Hunter Mahan, then got up-and-down for par on the 18th green to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.

Haas won a combined $11.44 million — including $10 million for capturing the FedEx Cup.

“It was all or nothing,” Haas said of his shot from the water left of the 17th green.

That’s what this playoff felt like.

Mahan had to settle for $864,000 for his runner-up finish, and $700,000 for finishing seventh in the FedEx Cup. The difference between winning and losing was $9.876 million.

Haas won for the first time this year, and the payoff could be more than just a massive bank deposit. Fred Couples makes his final captain’s pick on Tuesday for the Presidents Cup, and Haas put on quite a show.

Even if Couples wasn’t watching, his assistant captain had a great view: Jay Haas, Bill’s dad, was in the gallery at East Lake, and raised his arms as his 29-year-old son delivered the most riveting conclusion in the five-year history of the FedEx Cup.

“I’m proud of him the way he came back,” Jay Haas said.

“I’m very fortunate,” Haas said. “This is pretty unbelievable.”