Haas rules in Toshiba win

NEWPORT BEACH — There have been several memorable moments at the Toshiba Classic. Add another two to the list, courtesy of Jay Haas, who provided a record-breaking performance that included a dramatic birdie putt on the 10th hole Sunday at Newport Beach Country Club.

The putt was one of four straight that essentially sealed the win and led to a tournament-record 19-under-par 194, two better than Hale Irwin’s five-year-old mark.

“It was just an outstanding week for me,” said Haas, who had 20 birdies over 54 holes and just one bogey. He had been bogey-free in the previous 46 holes, dating back to the par-three 15th at the Ace Group Classic at Quail West in Naples, Fla. on Feb. 25.

“The weather, I think, helped the scores go so low,” he said. “I think also the amount of guys right behind starting the day, I felt like my mindset was to go out and try to shoot in the mid-60s, and hopefully that was good enough.”

Haas, last year’s Champions Tour money leader, shot six-under-par 65 Sunday to collect $247,500 that came from his two-shot victory over R.W. Eaks.

Eaks, who also shot 65, actually tied Irwin’s former record, finishing at 196. Yet, after the 12th hole, when Haas nailed his fourth straight birdie, Eaks knew it was over.

“I was playing for second place after the 12th hole,” said Eaks, who won the Taco Bell Newport Classic in 1995 and ’96. “I was fortunate a couple of guys didn’t quite play so well coming in. Sometimes that is how it works out.”

From the outset it seemed Eaks might have had a chance for an upset, as Haas shot par on the first three holes. He birdied No. 1 in each of the first two rounds.

But Haas’ birdie on No. 4 proved to be crucial.

“The shot at No. 4 was probably the real key for me,” said Haas, who took over the top spot as the points leader for the Charles Schwab Cup, which he won last year. “The pin was tucked over to the left and I hit it in about a foot and a half, and I think that kind of settled be down a bit.”

If No. 4 provided calm, Haas’ birdie putt on the 10th seemed to accentuate his win. The 16-foot putt rolled to the cup, hung on the lip for about eight seconds and dropped. During that time the ball stayed on the lip, Haas and Peter Jacobsen spoke to each other.

“Peter turned to me and said, ‘That thing, I thought that was going in,’” Haas said. “I said, ‘I did too.’”

The two joked with each other at times during the final round and also just conversed. After Haas’ wild birdie putt, Jacobsen stepped up and drained a birdie of his own.

“[Jacobsen] said, ‘That is the way you are supposed to make it, not hanging on the lip,’ ” Haas said. “You are supposed to make it so it goes right in. We had a great time. We had a great group. Those guys are fun to be with.”

Jacobsen, who was in the group with Haas and Eaks, shot an even-par 71 Sunday to finish tied for fifth. Jacobsen, who had laser back surgery last week, began the day a shot behind Haas.

But Haas proved too dominant, especially when he came alive after his bogey on the par-three eighth hole.

Before moving on to No. 9, Haas talked to himself and did his best to maintain the patience he showed throughout the tournament. Yet while staying pateint, he wanted to attack to the course.

“I was walking to No. 9 and I was trying to be too fine,” Haas said. “I was trying to have a perfect shot on every shot, and if you are making bogeys, at least be aggressive and take a swing and stop trying to be too perfect.”

Haas admitted afterward he was definitely less than perfect, yet he was still able to break the tournament course record.

“Of the three days, this is probably my day I wasn’t quite as sharp from tee to green,” Haas said. “I probably didn’t hit as many fairways or greens that I have been doing. But my putting was good and I took advantage of all of my opportunities. I really thought I could go one tournament without making a bogey, but I have never done that — the only negative on this whole week, that’s for sure.”

The positive? The Toshiba Classic victory was his first win of the year, although he had been consistent to start 2007. He entered with four top-five finishes in six tournaments, including three second-place showings.

Haas, who won nine PGA Tour titles in his 29-year career, seemed as if he was overdue to win on the Champions Tour, considering he had four last year.

Though he was bound to win, it probably would have been understood if it didn’t come at the Toshiba Classic. Last year, he finished tied for 16th with a 209. He shot 70-67-72.

He said he was frustrated because he knew he could have done better and he did with his 65-64-65. It was enough to hold off Eaks and the rest of the field.

Ben Crenshaw (65-67-68) earned his best finish on the Champions Tour, tying for third with Joe Ozaki (68-64-68) at 13-under 200.

Last year’s champion Brad Bryant finished tied for 58th at 213. Mark O’ Meara, the 1979 Costa Mesa City champion who was making his Toshiba Classic debut, finished tied for fifth at 201.

Paul Hahn (76-76-78), the pro at the NBCC, finished 77th at 230.

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