Haas solid in first round

NEWPORT BEACH — The defending champion of the Toshiba Classic is in a familiar, but not surprising position after the first round Friday.

Jay Haas is two strokes out of the lead and looking for his first victory of the 2008 season. He’s also looking to become Toshiba’s first back-to-back winner.

This is his third event of 2008 and Haas has finished tied for third and tied for sixth in the previous two.

“I’m not in a panic mode,” Haas said of not winning. “I would certainly have loved to have had a victory, but I’m playing well and keep giving myself opportunities. I had a really good chance at both of those places.”

Haas doesn’t need to worry about getting his first victory of the year if the previous two years are any indication. He has been one of the dominant players on the Champions Tour, earning more than $2 million each of the last two years. He has been the leading money winner on tour those years and last year was named Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

“I’ve always felt pressure every year, for a long time I’ve felt like I need to improve,” said Haas, who birdied seven of the first 16 holes before his bogey on No. 17. “I know that I probably don’t get better at my age, I just get a little bit less worse.”

But it only took Jay Haas three years on the Champions Tour to accomplish what it took him 15 years on the PGA Tour to do.

Haas has won 10 times on the Champions Tour versus his nine victories on the PGA Tour.

When Haas joined the Champions Tour in 2004, he was splitting his time between the PGA and Champions tours, but last year decided to play solely on the Champions Tour.

“Probably the only reason I would go back now is just to play with Bill (his son) and hang out with him a little bit and watch him perform,” Haas said. “I said last year it was kind of time for me to step aside and let him fly on his own and he’s done very well.”

So the empty nester can now focus on the Champions Tour and despite seven-under-par rounds this year, still is looking for his first victory.

“I don’t say expectations, I have goals,” Haas said. “My goals were to win the money list and win the [Charles Schwab Cup].”

This event could be where he gets his first win of the year. He tied for 16th in 2006 his first year and followed it with a victory, setting a tournament record of 19-under par.

“I enjoy playing this golf course,” Haas said. “It really appeals to my eye.”

Other players have expressed an affinity for this course and Haas knows if he is going to repeat he is going to have to continue to shoot rounds in the mid 60s.

“I’m trying to make birdie on every hole,” Haas said. “I’m shooting for the flags. I guess I’m thinking that it’s that type of golf course.”