Bill Haas Bio
William Harlan Haas, known professionally as Bill Haas, is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Born on May 24, 1982, he is best known for winning the 2011 FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize that accompanied the season-long title. He is the son of former PGA Tour player Jay Haas and comes from one of the most recognized families in American golf.
Haas has competed on the PGA Tour since 2006, building a résumé that includes six individual tour titles, multiple Presidents Cup selections, and a place among the consistent performers of his generation. A graduate of Wake Forest University, he combines a strong amateur pedigree with the steady professionalism that has defined his career in the sport.
Early Life and Background
William Harlan Haas was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1982 and was raised in Greer, South Carolina, a suburb of Greenville. He grew up surrounded by golf, as his father, Jay Haas, was a nine-time PGA Tour winner, and his uncle, Jerry Haas, also played the tour. The family atmosphere gave him a deep understanding of the game from an early age, and the PGA Tour felt like a natural environment rather than a distant goal.
He followed his father and uncle to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, becoming the third member of his family to play golf for the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest’s program has long been one of the strongest college teams in the country, and Haas used that platform to develop the all-around game that would later translate to professional success. His great-uncle, Bob Goalby, won the 1968 Masters Tournament, which added another layer of professional pedigree to the family background.
Path to Professional Golf
Haas had a distinguished college career at Wake Forest, earning three-time first-team All-American honors along with four All-ACC selections. He was named ACC Player of the Year twice and won the conference’s Rookie of the Year award in 2001. During his time with the Demon Deacons, he captured ten college tournament victories and set an NCAA record for the lowest single-season scoring average.
His senior year in 2004 brought the highest individual honors in collegiate golf, including the Haskins Award, the Jack Nicklaus Award, and the Ben Hogan Award. He also represented the United States in the 2003 Walker Cup and played on two Palmer Cup teams. After that successful amateur career, Haas turned professional in 2004 and began the climb toward the PGA Tour.
Bill Haas Career
Early Career (2005-2006)
Haas began his professional career on the Nationwide Tour in 2005 after failing to earn his PGA Tour card through qualifying school. His best finish that season was a solo second place at the Scholarship America Showdown. He then birdied the final two holes of the 2005 qualifying tournament to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2006 season.
In his rookie year on the PGA Tour, Haas made 19 of 30 cuts and finished 99th on the money list. His best result came at the Wachovia Championship, where he tied for fourth place. Those early results gave him the experience he needed to stabilize his position on tour.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2007-2009)
Haas faced challenges in 2007, missing eight cuts in his first 13 events, but he steadied himself during the fall series and recorded a tie for third at the Viking Classic. He finished 104th on the money list, the same position he would hold again in 2008. During the 2008 season, he qualified for the first two FedEx Cup playoff events before being eliminated at the halfway stage.
His form improved significantly in 2009, when he posted four top-10 finishes, including a tie for third at the Valero Texas Open. That year he advanced to the third FedEx Cup playoff event, the BMW Championship, and ended the season 41st in the standings with earnings of just under $1.5 million. The progress signaled that his first PGA Tour victory was close.
First Wins and FedEx Cup Title (2010-2011)
At the start of the 2010 season, Haas won his first PGA Tour title at the Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, California, finishing one shot ahead of Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark, and Bubba Watson. The win came after he had received swing advice from his father Jay and great-uncle Bob Goalby about his foot positioning. He followed that breakthrough with a second victory at the Viking Classic in October, winning by three strokes over Michael Allen, and finished the year 20th on the money list.
The defining moment of Haas’s career arrived in 2011, when he captured the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. He defeated Hunter Mahan in a sudden-death playoff at the third extra hole, highlighted by an exceptional pitch shot from the bank of a water hazard on the second playoff hole. The victory earned him the 2011 FedEx Cup title and the $10 million bonus. That same year, U.S. team captain Fred Couples selected Haas for the 2011 Presidents Cup, where he contributed 1.5 points for the victorious American side.
Continued Success (2012-2015)
Haas won for the fourth time on the PGA Tour in February 2012 at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. He came from two strokes back on the final day and holed a 43-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. In June 2013, he claimed his fifth PGA Tour title at the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, winning by three strokes over Roberto Castro after a closing 66.
In April 2014, Haas led the Masters after an opening round of 68, though a second-round 78 pushed him down the leaderboard. He finished the tournament tied for 20th. In January 2015, he won his sixth PGA Tour title at the Humana Challenge, shooting a final-round 67 for a 22-under-par total and a one-stroke victory. That same year, he was selected to his third Presidents Cup, becoming the first American to play in three Presidents Cups without a Ryder Cup appearance.
Later Career (2016-Present)
Haas continued to compete on the PGA Tour in the seasons that followed his 2015 Humana Challenge win. An injury kept him off the course for part of the 2017-18 season, and he played the 2018-19 season out of the 126-150 category after not earning enough to retain full Tour privileges. That marked the first time in his career that he did not hold full status on the PGA Tour.
Despite the challenges, Haas remained active in professional golf and worked to return to full competitive form. His experience and pedigree have continued to make him a respected figure on tour.
Driving Style and Strengths
Haas is known for his steady, patient approach and his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes situations. His crisp iron play and creative short game were showcased during the 2011 Tour Championship playoff and the 2012 Northern Trust Open, where his ability to recover from difficult positions set him apart. He has credited family advice for shaping his swing mechanics, a reminder of the strong technical foundation that runs through his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Haas’s career highlight remains the 2011 FedEx Cup victory, which came with a $10 million prize and the most dramatic shot of his career, a par save from the water hazard bank at East Lake. He has recorded six PGA Tour wins, played in three Presidents Cups, and earned three major individual college awards in 2004. His family connections, including his father Jay Haas and great-uncle Bob Goalby, place him within one of the most successful golfing families in American history.
Bill Haas Career Wins
Bill Haas has accumulated six PGA Tour victories since his first win in 2010, along with a successful amateur career highlighted by ten college tournament titles. His professional wins span the Bob Hope Classic, the Viking Classic, the Tour Championship, the Northern Trust Open, the AT&T National, and the Humana Challenge.
PGA Tour Highlights
Haas’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2010 Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, California, where he finished one shot ahead of a crowded leaderboard that included Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson. His most recent PGA Tour win came at the 2015 Humana Challenge, which he had also won in 2010 when the event was known as the Bob Hope Classic. Between those bookend victories, he added the 2010 Viking Classic, the 2011 Tour Championship, the 2012 Northern Trust Open, and the 2013 AT&T National. The 2011 Tour Championship also brought the FedEx Cup title and its $10 million prize.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour victories, Haas and his father Jay won the CVS Caremark Charity Classic in 2004, an unofficial PGA Tour event. His amateur résumé includes ten college tournament wins at Wake Forest, the 2003 Walker Cup, and the 2004 Haskins Award, Jack Nicklaus Award, and Ben Hogan Award.
Bill Haas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bill Haas comes from one of the most recognized families in American golf. His father, Jay Haas, is a nine-time PGA Tour winner, and his brother, Jay Haas Jr., and uncle, Jerry Haas, are also former PGA Tour players. His great-uncle, Bob Goalby, won the 1968 Masters Tournament, making the family legacy in professional golf remarkable in both depth and achievement.
Personal Life
Bill Haas resides in Greenville, South Carolina. He is married to Julie Haas, whose maiden name is Arrington. In February 2018, Haas was involved in an automobile crash in Pacific Palisades, California. He was treated at a hospital and released the following day, after which he withdrew from the Genesis Open.
2025 Season Performance
Bill Haas entered the 2025 PGA Tour season with the goal of regaining full status and returning to consistent competitive form. After several seasons affected by injury and limited playing opportunities, he has continued to work on his game and seek spots in tournament fields through Monday qualifiers and sponsor exemptions.
His experience on high-pressure stages, including his 2011 FedEx Cup triumph and Presidents Cup appearances, has remained a source of confidence as he navigates the challenges of the current tour landscape. Haas has spoken about the importance of patience and a steady approach during the 2025 season, focusing on measured progress rather than immediate results.
Looking ahead, Haas’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on earning enough FedEx Cup points to climb back into the fully exempt categories of the PGA Tour. While the path back to his peak form is demanding, his track record of six tour wins and a FedEx Cup title underscores the talent and resilience that continue to define his career.