Haas wins again at Humana Challenge

BillHaas - Cropped

Bill Haas continued his family's strong tradition at the Humana Challenge, claiming his clan's third title in La Quinta despite a terrible drive on the 18th hole of Sunday's final round.

Haas prevailed by a stroke from a group of five players tied for second, repeating his success at the same event where he first tasted PGA Tour success in 2010, while his father - Jay - also won the tournament in 1998.

But it could have ended very differently for Haas as his drive on the par-five 18th landed on the lip of a bunker.

Standing in the bunker with the ball at thigh-height, the 32-year-old American hit the ball like a baseball player back onto the fairway and, despite a two-putt, saved par to secure victory at 22 under overall with a round of five under.

Earlier, Matt Kuchar missed a birdie putt on the 18th that - as it turned out - would have forced a play-off, as he joined fellow Americans Charley Hoffman, Brendan Steele and Steve Wheatcroft, plus South Korea's Sung-joon Park in share of second on 21 under.

Haas dropped a shot on the third hole on Sunday but responded immediately with a birdie, before an eagle and birdie on the sixth and eighth holes respectively saw him move to 20 under at the halfway point of his fourth round.

Birdies on the 11th and 16th holes followed, as Haas moved away from fellow overnight leaders Justin Thomas, Erik Compton and Michael Putnam to claim victory.

A double-bogey on the 16th effectively ended Thomas' title bid, as the 21-year-old slumped to a share of seventh at 20 under with a three-under 69.

Thomas was joined by Webb Simpson and Boo Weekley.

Compton (70) and Putnam (72) fell to equal 10th and a share of 15th respectively. 

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