Bill Haas

Bill Haas Bio

William Harlan Haas (born May 24, 1982) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and won the 2011 FedEx Cup. He is the son of former PGA Tour player Jay Haas and a great-nephew of 1968 Masters Tournament champion Bob Goalby. Over the course of his professional career, Haas has won six events on the PGA Tour and one other tournament, reaching a career-high world ranking of 12th in February 2012.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in Greer, South Carolina, Haas developed his game in a family steeped in competitive golf. He played collegiately at Wake Forest University, where he became one of the most decorated amateurs in school history before turning professional in 2004. He currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.

Early Life and Background

William Harlan Haas was born on May 24, 1982, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up in Greer, South Carolina, a suburb of Greenville. He was introduced to golf at a young age through his family, with both his father Jay Haas and his uncle Jerry Haas having played at a high competitive level. Bob Goalby, his great-uncle, was the 1968 Masters Tournament champion, giving the young Haas a deep connection to the traditions of the professional game.

Haas attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, becoming the third member of his family to play golf for the school, following his father and uncle. He had a distinguished college career as a three-time first-team All-American, a four-time All-ACC selection, a two-time ACC Player of the Year, and the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year. During his time at Wake Forest, he won ten college tournaments and, in his 2004 senior year, captured the Haskins Award, the Jack Nicklaus Award, and the Ben Hogan Award, while also setting an NCAA record for the lowest scoring average.

As an amateur, Haas also represented the United States in prestigious team competitions, including the 2003 Walker Cup team and two Palmer Cup teams. His amateur résumé established him as one of the most promising American players of his generation before he made the transition to the professional ranks.

Path to Professional Golf

After completing his decorated amateur career at Wake Forest, Haas turned professional in 2004. His early professional years required patience and persistence, as he did not immediately secure a PGA Tour card. In 2005, he played on the Nationwide Tour, with his best result being a solo second at the Scholarship America Showdown. He finished that season by birdieing the last two holes of the qualifying tournament to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2006 season.

Haas’s development on the PGA Tour was gradual. In his 2006 rookie season, he finished 99th on the money list while making 19 of 30 cuts, and he kept his card for the following year. His 2007 and 2008 campaigns saw him finish 104th on the money list in back-to-back seasons, with strong showings at the Viking Classic in both years. The 2009 season marked a clear step forward, as he posted four top-10 finishes, qualified for the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time, and ended the year 41st in the standings while winning just under $1.5 million.

Bill Haas Career

Early Career (2004-2009)

Haas turned professional in 2004 and began the climb toward the PGA Tour through the Nationwide Tour. His 2005 Nationwide Tour season ended successfully when he birdied the final two holes of qualifying school to secure his PGA Tour card for 2006. In his debut season on the PGA Tour, he finished 99th on the money list and made 19 of 30 cuts, with a tie for fourth at the Wachovia Championship standing as his strongest result of the year.

Over the next several seasons, Haas worked to establish himself, finishing 104th on the money list in both 2007 and 2008. A tie for fourth at the Viking Classic in 2008 was a notable highlight, and in 2009 his form finally broke through. He recorded four top-10 finishes, including a tie for third at the Valero Texas Open, qualified for the BMW Championship for the first time, and ended the season ranked 61st on the money list, setting the stage for his first PGA Tour victory the following year.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (2010-2011)

At the start of the 2010 season, Haas captured his first PGA Tour title at the Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, California. A week before the event, he had received advice from his father Jay Haas and great-uncle Bob Goalby about his foot positioning during the swing. He won by one shot over Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark, and Bubba Watson, and the victory earned him his first appearance in the Masters Tournament, where he finished tied for 26th. In October 2010, he added a second PGA Tour title at the Viking Classic, winning by three strokes over Michael Allen, and a runner-up finish at the McGladrey Classic the following week lifted him to 20th on the final money list.

In 2011, Haas produced the defining moment of his career by winning the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. He defeated Hunter Mahan in a sudden-death playoff at the third extra hole, sealing the victory after playing an exceptional pitch from a water-hazard bank on the second playoff hole to save par. The win propelled him to the 2011 FedEx Cup title and the $10 million prize, and he finished seventh on the final PGA Tour money list. Later that year, he was a captain’s pick for the 2011 Presidents Cup, joining Tiger Woods on the U.S. team that retained the cup, and contributed 1.5 points to the American side.

Continued Success and Later Years (2012-2015)

Haas won his fourth PGA Tour title in February 2012 at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. He came from two strokes back on the final day to force a three-man playoff with Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, then holed a 43-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to claim the victory. In 2013, he added a fifth PGA Tour win at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, closing with a 66 to win by three strokes over Roberto Castro and becoming one of four players to win a PGA Tour event in each of the previous four seasons.

In 2014, Haas led the Masters after an opening round of 68 before a second-round 78 pushed him down the leaderboard, and he eventually finished tied for 20th. In January 2015, he won his sixth PGA Tour title at the Humana Challenge with a final-round 67, finishing at 22-under-par for a one-stroke victory, and he was selected to his third Presidents Cup team that fall, becoming the first American to play in three Presidents Cups without a Ryder Cup selection.

Notable Events and Milestones

Beyond his six PGA Tour wins, Haas reached a career-high world ranking of 12th in February 2012 on the strength of his 2011 FedEx Cup triumph. His best major championship finishes include a tie for fifth at the 2017 U.S. Open, a tie for ninth at the 2016 Open Championship, a tie for 12th at the 2011 PGA Championship, and a tie for 12th at the 2015 Masters Tournament. He has played on three U.S. Presidents Cup teams (2011, 2013, 2015) and, with his father Jay, won the 2004 CVS Caremark Charity Classic, an unofficial PGA Tour event.

Bill Haas Career Wins

Bill Haas has accumulated seven professional wins across his career, with six coming on the PGA Tour and one additional victory in other events. His PGA Tour triumphs include the 2010 Bob Hope Classic, the 2010 Viking Classic, the 2011 Tour Championship, the 2012 Northern Trust Open, the 2013 AT&T National, and the 2015 Humana Challenge. His career-defining moment remains the 2011 Tour Championship, where a clutch pitch from a water-hazard bank on the second playoff hole helped him defeat Hunter Mahan and claim the FedEx Cup title.

PGA Tour Highlights

Haas’s six PGA Tour wins span six consecutive years from 2010 to 2015, a run that placed him among a small group of players winning a Tour event in each of those seasons. His first PGA Tour title came at the 2010 Bob Hope Classic, where pre-tournament advice from his father and great-uncle helped him win by one shot. His most recent Tour victory came at the 2015 Humana Challenge, where a final-round 67 lifted him to a one-stroke win as he returned from a fractured wrist injury that had hampered him throughout 2014. In major championships, his top finishes include a T5 at the 2017 U.S. Open, T9 at the 2016 Open Championship, and T12 showings at both the 2011 PGA Championship and the 2015 Masters Tournament.

Other Wins and Performances

Outside of the PGA Tour, Haas partnered with his father Jay Haas to win the 2004 CVS Caremark Charity Classic, a popular unofficial event on the Tour schedule. As an amateur, he captured ten college tournaments at Wake Forest University and added the Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, and Ben Hogan Award in 2004. He also represented the United States in the 2003 Walker Cup and two Palmer Cup teams during his amateur career.

Bill Haas Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Bill Haas comes from one of the most accomplished golf families in American history. His father, Jay Haas, is a nine-time PGA Tour winner, and his brother, Jay Haas Jr., is a former PGA Tour player. His uncle, Jerry Haas, also played on the PGA Tour, and his great-uncle, Bob Goalby, won the 1968 Masters Tournament. Three members of the family, including Bill, have played golf at Wake Forest University, following a tradition established by his father and uncle.

Personal Life

Bill Haas is married to Julie Haas, whose maiden name was Arrington. The couple has three children. The Haas family makes their home in Greenville, South Carolina. On February 13, 2018, Haas was involved in an automobile crash in Pacific Palisades, California, in which the other driver, Mark Gibello, was pronounced dead. Haas was treated at a hospital for injuries from the incident and was released the following day, withdrawing from the ongoing Genesis Open.

2025 Season Performance

Entering 2025, Bill Haas continues his professional career with longstanding ties to the PGA Tour. Following an injury-affected 2018-19 season in which he played out of the 126-150 category and did not earn full Tour privileges for the first time in his career, Haas has worked to re-establish his competitive form. His career-best major results, including a T5 at the 2017 U.S. Open, demonstrate that his game remains capable of contending on the biggest stages, even as the depth of the PGA Tour has continued to grow.

As a past FedEx Cup champion, Haas is one of the few American players to have won the season-long race, and his experience across more than two decades of professional golf gives him a valuable veteran presence. His connection to the Wake Forest golf tradition, his Presidents Cup appearances, and his family legacy in the sport continue to shape his role in the game heading into the 2025 season.