Jay Haas has done it all in golf, from learning the game from his uncle, Masters champion Bob Goalby, to captaining the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team with his son, Bill, getting the winning point in 2015. The Wake Forest graduate also won an NCAA individual title in 1975 as well as team titles in 1974 and 1975. He turned pro in 1976 and won nine times on the PGA Tour before joining the Champions Tour where he has won 18 times, the most recent coming in October at the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club. It was his second victory in Orange County, following his first title at NBCC in 2007.
What’s your best moment in golf?
Being the Presidents Cup captain and having Bill on that team and winning the final point on the last day. It’s pretty hard to top that. Recently, winning at Newport Beach (Toshiba Classic) with my wife, Jan, caddying for me, that was pretty special as well. I’ve been very blessed to have a great career out here and to manage to play this long. There have been a lot of highlights, but those are a couple that come to mind.
Who has been your biggest influence?
Probably my uncle, Bob Goalby. He started me in the game and kind of nurtured me as I went through the game. We talk all the time and he just lives and dies with every shot I hit. He’s the guy that sort of got me going, so I’d have to say Bob, in addition to Billy Harmon, who has been my teacher for the last 25 years or so. He’s also my best friend, so those two guys have kept me going over the years.
What’s your favorite event on tour and why?
Hilton Head, because I met my wife there and have played there a bunch of times. That’s probably our favorite place that we went to on the PGA Tour. How could it not be?
What’s your best tip for amateurs?
The most common thing I see with amateurs is they’re not taking enough loft around the green. They’re not schooled in the use of a lob wedge around the greens and how to utilize that loft. And then when they’re in the bunkers they don’t open the club enough; they don’t trust the fact that they can swing hard at it and it won’t go very far. So I say swing hard and open up the clubface. The higher the handicap the more it seems they shy away from using that lob wedge. But that’s a club that can really save them some strokes.
What do you do to take your mind off the game?
We have eight grandchildren now and our ninth is coming in January, so we’re usually in the car going to see one family or another and see the grandkids. They’re all 6 and under and they’re a ton of fun to spend time with them. As I’m traveling, I realize I’ve traveled for 40 years, basically, and so it’s nice to not go anywhere unless it’s for 20 minutes in the car down the road to see those young ones.
