Bill Haas has become a mainstay at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta. The defending champion enters this year’s event coming off a dramatic performance in his third Presidents Cup. After being selected as a captain’s pick by his father, Jay, the elder Haas placed him in the anchor singles match and Bill delivered a victory for the U.S. team that ended with a warm embrace from dad.
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the 2011 FedEx Cup champion. Before his first PGA Tour victory at the 2010 CareerBuilder Challenge, Haas had only two third-place finishes as highs in six seasons, and his maiden victory came in his 142nd start.
Last year’s victory in the desert inched Haas one title closer to Jay’s career total. The younger Haas, 33, has six; his father nine. The elder Haas, however, would love it if his son surpassed him one day, and he was in the desert for Bill’s first victory in 2010.
“It was fantastic, probably one of my favorite moments as a pro,” Bill said. “Winning my first tournament and then having (my dad) there and my great uncle, Bob (Goalby) … man, that place is pretty special to me.”
Early that week, Haas went to breakfast at Keedy’s Fountain Grill with his family and received setup advice from Goalby, who won the 1968 Masters, and swing coach Bill Harmon as he practiced that week, who both urged him to open his right foot for better rotation on the backswing. It worked, as he finished 30-under par for the tournament, which was then played over five rounds.
The Southland has been special to Jay, too, as he won what was then the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1988 and also won in San Diego in 1978. For Bill, their shared accomplishment in the desert simply adds to the sentiment of the event.
“I think because my dad has also won there, for me and him to share that is a pretty cool common goal that we’ve both achieved,” he said. “I think that’s pretty neat.”
The tournament with deep ties to Hope and the Palm Springs area that also was known as the Humana Challenge in recent years has undergone several changes inside and outside the ropes, and Haas has seen many of them in his 10 years of visits.
“I’ve played the event so many times because I’ve played well there,” he said. “Not only have I won there twice but I’ve had a couple other close calls. Losing in a playoff (2011), I’ve just done well. So it’s silly to skip places that you do so well at.”
With the exception of 2012 and 2013, Haas has finished in the top 35 in previous appearances, including a tie for sixth in 2014. With two new courses from PGA West – TPC Stadium and Jack Nicklaus Tournament – joining La Quinta Country Club in the rotation this year, Haas will have to adjust to new venues.
“I’ve done so well at the other courses, but there’s no reason I couldn’t do well on the new ones,” he said. “That’s my goal: go there this year and try to win another one.”
Haas spends some of his offseason fishing off the coast of South Carolina, where he makes his home. He also spends time in the desert fine-tuning his game with Harmon on the back of the range at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells.
“It’s a great setup there; we really enjoy it,” Haas said. “I like working with him a little bit out there. I definitely just spend a lot of time in the desert when it’s cold at home in Greenville, and I enjoy it there. The golf courses really suit my eye a bit.”
Having a father who understands the struggles of the game and how to win at the highest level also helps Haas in his preparation.
“I think coming from the same profession and understanding golf a little bit and how hard it is, I do get nervous for him,” Jay Haas said about watching his son. “I get excited for him but I don’t live and die with every single putt and shot.”
Jay likes what he’s seeing from Bill’s game and is looking forward to what’s in store for his son in the near future.
“I think Bill is getting more comfortable on the course, like how to react to certain situations,” the elder Haas said. “I think he’s still young and he’s still got a lot of great golf left in him. I feel like I’m still learning at 62, so I know he still is. Hopefully that will continue.”
Bill also knows that he must start from scratch each tournament, even if you are the defending champion.
“If I bogey the first hole right out of the gate, or if I play No. 10 right out of the gate, I’ll forget about it,” he said of moving on to the next hole and challenge. “It’s ‘what have you done for me lately’ in this game.”
CAREERBUILDER CHALLENGE
When: Jan. 21-24
Where: La Quinta
Courses: La Quinta Country Club, TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West
Format: 72 holes; stroke play; two rounds at TPC Stadium and one each at the other venues
Pro-am: Jan. 20 at TPC Stadium
Purse: $5,800,000
Defending champion: Bill Haas, who won the then-titled Humana Challenge by a shot over five players.
Miscellaneous: This year marks the first event under the title sponsorship of CareerBuilder. It started as the Palm Springs Golf Classic in 1960 and is best known for its lengthy ties to Bob Hope and other celebrities of his era.
History: This year marks the 56th of the event being hosted by Desert Classic Charities, which last year donated $925,000 to nonprofit agencies in the Coachella Valley. That total has been consistent throughout the years, as nearly $56 million has been donated to organizations since the tournament’s inception.
Sight to see: Fans who enjoy watching players take on Pete Dye’s par-3 island green at No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass should camp out by the TPC Stadium’s island green on its No. 17, which was also concocted by Dye.
Tickets or more information: careerbuilderchallenge.com
