Bill Haas Wins The Northern Trust Open
Feb 20, 2012; 3:28 PM ET
Bill Haas came from behind to win the Northern Trust Open in dramatic fashion on Sunday. Haas made a 45-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) to earn his first victory of 2012.
(Bill Haas wins in dramatic fashion. Photo: WN.com)
It looked like Haas's round of 2-under (69) on Sunday would be enough to claim victory in regulation. Haas made birdie on the 17th hole after making back-to-back bogies on 12 and 13 to take the outright lead. After his round he went to the range as 54-hole leaders Mickelson and Bradley battled it out.
Both Mickelson and Bradley needed to make birdie on the 18th to shoot even par and force a playoff. Mickelson left himself a 25-foot putt while Bradley needed only 12-feet. As they both dropped their putts the crowd went wild and Haas, who was on the range, knew they were headed to a playoff.
Haas was the only player to hit the green in regulation on the second playoff hole, the 10th hole, a 315 yard par 4. His tee shot landed left of the green and forced Haas to "lay up" to 45-feet away. Mickelson and Bradley had the chance to tie but Mickelson, from a greenside bunker, came up short while Bradley burned the edge of the cup with his putt from just off the green.
The win earns Haas $1,188,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points. It's his fourth career PGA Tour victory and marks his third consecutive season with a win.
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