Haas can't forget bad Ryder drive
Posted: Wednesday May 21, 2008 08:31AM ET
The day after it happened, Jay Haas certainly wasn't thinking he had just learned a valuable lesson, one that would help him for the rest of his professional golf career. All he could think of was that the admittedly horrendous tee shot he struck on the East Course's 18th hole during his 1995 Ryder Cup singles match with Europe's Philip Walton had played a pivotal role in the United States' demise that fateful afternoon. "I couldn't have hit a worse drive if I was swinging with my eyes closed," Haas recalled. Haas has never forgotten it, and no one who was there that day at Heartbreak Hill will forget it, either. The U.S. team was in full flop by the time Haas and Walton reached the 18th tee and the coveted Ryder Cup -- seemingly firmly in hand when the day began -- was practically boarding the Concorde for the trip back to the other side of the Atlantic. Haas had kept the U.S. hopes alive by rallying to pull even with Walton, winning the 16th and 17th holes, but he had to win 18 as well if the U.S. was going to retain possession of Samuel Ryder's little gold chalice. However, Haas hit an ugly pull-hook deep into the left rough and could not recover, and the little-known Walton scored the point that clinched Europe's come-from-behind victory.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Jay Haas, Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Comments (7)
bad shot on 18 it's called choking
golfwacko | 05/21/08, 11:27 AM
Report Offensive CommentChoked like a dog. Only Greg Norman could have done worse.
Jakester | 05/21/08, 01:09 PM
Report Offensive CommentMan i am so sick of Greg Norman "choke" comments.Lets not forget he shot 64 on Sunday at Royal St Georges to win the British Open. Chokers dont do that. A real choke is Arnie in the 1966 US Open. Leading Billy Casper by SEVEN shots with NINE holes to play, Casper tied him and then beat him the next day in a playoff.Sam Snead choked twice on his way to never winning the US Open. But no-one remembers that stuff. And jsut so people know i LOVE ARNOLD PALMER, but everyone forgets his massive CHOKE because he is ARNOLD.
BEAST! | 05/21/08, 05:58 PM
Report Offensive Commenthow many majors did arnie win? norman?
golfwacko | 05/21/08, 08:38 PM
Report Offensive CommentBeast, although a poor speller, is correct Mr. Wacko and Mr. jakester.
Anyone who calls Norman a choker not only does not know what they are talking about they are proving their stupidity as well.
Norman was one of the best closers there was. And, one more time for those of you who have SFB's, the big hits he took were because other people like Mize, Frost, Tway and Gamez all holed out with miracle shots.
Got it finally? Numb nuts.
Jonisagolffan | 05/22/08, 08:08 AM
Report Offensive CommentWow, another incredibly stupid comment from jonis. He must have been asleep all through 1996, when Norman lost the Masters by shooting a 78 on Sunday (to lose by 6), and in 1995, when Norman shot a 73 on Sunday at the US open (to lose by 3), and in 1986, when Norman shot a 76 on Sunday at the PGA (to lose by 1 to Mize). Jonis, do yourself and everyone else a favor. Find a tall building and jump off of it.
FLGLFFAN | 05/22/08, 04:52 PM
Report Offensive CommentWow, Jonis, you sure put me in my place. I'll be sure to check with you before I post anything in the future. Clearly, you are the expert on all things golf. Never again will I display my stupidity, or my nuts, without checking with you first. I beg your forgiveness Oh Great One.
Jakester | 05/22/08, 06:06 PM
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