Bill Haas wins his first PGA Tour event at the Bob Hope

CP

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Bill Haas made a short birdie putt on the 18th hole to earn his first PGA Tour victory at the Bob Hope Classic on Monday, beating Matt Kuchar, Tim Clark and Bubba Watson by one stroke with an 8-under 64.

Haas was the last of three co-leaders to play the 18th, and an outstanding approach shot allowed him to two-putt his way to a 30-under 330 finish.

Kuchar and South Africa's Clark both had birdie chances on the par-5 18th at the Arnold Palmer Private course, but both missed their putts. Fourth-round co-leader Watson birdied the 18th to grab a share of second place.

Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., said he was on a "mission" heading into this season and delivered a solid finish in his first event - placing sixth after closing with a 66. He made US$180,000.

Tour rookie Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., had a 67 and also picked up a good cheque, earning $58,750 for an 18th-place finish.

After grinding through five rounds on four courses over six days in the rain-delayed tournament, Haas couldn't celebrate until his final shot. He's the 27-year-old son of Jay Haas, the 1988 Hope Classic champion.

After father and son practised together in nearby Indian Wells last weekend when Bill Haas missed the cut at the Sony Open, Jay Haas travelled back from his own Champions Tour event in Hawaii just in time to watch his son finish the final round with back-to-back birdies.

They're the eighth father-son combination to win on the PGA Tour.

Bill Haas spent most of the day trailing Kuchar, who came from three shots back and rocketed up the tight leaderboard. He had eight birdies in his first 11 holes, but just one in the last seven.

After rain wiped out Thursday's play and threatened throughout Friday in the PGA Tour's only five-round, four-course event, the Hope Classic was extended to Monday. The tour's next event is close by at Torrey Pines, making travel easy - but the top Hope finishers may want to take an extra day to catch their breath after a nail-biting finish.

Rookie Alex Prugh, who shared the lead with Watson entering the final round, started slowly but closed with three straight birdies to finish fifth at 28 under in his third career PGA Tour event.

Kuchar's fast start also didn't shake Clark, who has never won on the PGA Tour. He has a runner-up finish for the sixth straight year, including his 2006 finish at the Masters.