The Shot
Another reward Bill Haas may have won on Sunday: the 12th and final spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Captain Fred Couples has probably made up his mind, but the formal announcement is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 at 5pm ET.
At the start of the week, it seemed like rookie Keegan Bradley, who has two wins, including a major, had the pick locked up — unless Bill Haas or Brandt Snedeker won the Tour Championship, of course.
Soak it in, folks.
From across the pond in NBC’s patio equipped with a TV (see here for photo of view), I was fortunate to have quite possibly the best vantage point of Bill Haas’ clutch shot in the half-water, half-bunker hazard guarding the 17th green. Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley had also gathered there and Bubba turned into a full-on commentator, which was actually pretty entertaining.
A chip for $10 million
At the end of NBC’s Roger Maltbie’s interview with Hunter Mahan, Maltbie, awkwardly, said, “Condolences,” to which Hunter replied, “Condolences?! I didn’t die!” Mahan had a big smile on his face despite losing the playoff to Bill Haas for the Tour Championship and all the other spoils that went along with it — the FedExCup and bonus money.
Haas hoisting $11.44 million worth of hardware
After Bill Haas rolled in a four-footer on the 18th, the third hole in sudden death, beating Hunter Mahan to capture the Tour Championship, Haas was whisked through the tunnel, up the stairs — but not before Bubba Watson rushed after him to give him a congratulatory hug — and onto the veranda in the grandstands for the made-for-TV portion of the trophy presentation.
When Haas saw the Tour Championship trophy and FedExCup trophy both sitting on the table and didn’t see another player, he looked at his wife Julie and quietly asked her, “Did I win the FedExCup?”
She beamed as she recounted the anecdote, saying she laughed, nodded and told him in an equally hushed voice, “Yes!”
Mahan: Eyeing $10 million
Here’s hoping for at least one playoff. The Tour Championship and FedExCup finale have a tough act to follow after the thrilling finish to the Solheim Cup! (And competing with football and baseball games this afternoon.)
54-hole co-leaders Aaron Baddeley and Hunter Mahan parred the first five holes to remain at nine-under, but both dropped a shot on the par-3 No. 6. Baddeley dumped his tee shot into the water. Mahan knocked a tough chip to seven feet, but pulled the putt. They matched bogeys and now there’s a three-way tie at the top between Baddeley, Mahan and K.J. Choi, who birdied No. 5.
Mahan is projected No. 1 in FEC points through 54 holes
After a disappointing finish at the BMW Championship, Hunter Mahan entered the playoff finale ranked No. 21 in FedExCup points. Now he’s tied for the lead with Aaron Baddeley at nine-under going into Sunday at the Tour Championship.
Mahan rolled in a birdie on the tough par-3 18 to shoot a solid four-under 66 on a day where the leaders struggled, including the top five in FEC points. He’s currently projected to win the FedExCup. When he found out, he said he was “shocked.” He had no idea until NBC’s Jimmy Roberts told him.
Bubba on his way to carding a 9 on No. 17
At East Lake on Saturday afternoon Bubba Watson, who followed his second-round 64 with a 79 on Saturday, reminded us that he’s one of the world’s best golfers, but he’s human. He also made it clear he’s not fond of the golf course and wouldn’t play this event if it were a “regular tournament.”
After his drive found the left rough on 17, he caught a flier and his approach shot flew into the back right greenside bunker. Even worse, he had a fried egg lie — which made it extremely tough to control the ball — and there was a good risk that his shot could roll off the green into the water hazard on the other side of the green.
Aussie power
Adam Scott recovered from a shaky start, going two-over through six, before jumping on the birdie train to card seven birdies in the last 12 holes at East Lake. Scott capped his five-under 65 with consecutive birdies on 17 and 18 — the roar from the crowd was so loud we heard it from the media center during K.J. Choi’s presser — to take a one-shot lead over Choi at the midway mark of the Tour Championship.
The Tank
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: K.J. Choi has a fantastic sense of humor and tells great stories…in English! Choi is a fan favorite (remember Choi’s Bois?) and often takes the extra effort to acknowledge the crowd even after a bad hole or shot. He didn’t have very many on Friday, though, shooting a five-under 65, a tie for his career best at East Lake, to move to second place at halfway mark of the Tour Championship.
“Bogey? I say, ‘Thank you!’ Better than double-bogey!” Choi, laughing, said earlier this week.
Stricker in the rough
U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples might have to find a replacement for a hurting Steve Stricker, along with a new partner for Tiger Woods, in the biennial matches held at Royal Melbourne in November. Stricker, who scrambled to card an even-par 70 in the second round of the Tour Championship, has a herniated disk and a bone spur that have gotten increasingly worse over the last two months.
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