BETHESDA, Md. — Bill Haas won the AT&T National and joined some distinguished company.
Haas pulled away from a crowd of contenders with three straight birdies, two key pars and one good hop out of the rough. It led to a 5-under 66 on a muggy day at Congressional and a three-shot win over Roberto Castro.
As many as six players had a share of the lead at some point until Haas rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 8. Worried about a splotch of mud on his ball, he hit his approach to just inside 12 feet for birdie on the par-5 ninth, and then hit a 5-iron to 10 feet for another birdie on the 10th.
Haas led by at least two shots the entire back nine, though he never allowed himself to think about winning until he stood over a 3-foot par putt on the 18th hole and realized he had three putts to win.
Haas has won at least one PGA Tour event in each of the last four years, joining Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose. And with a half-dozen players trying to win for the first time on tour, Haas kept a high pedigree of winner at the AT&T National. In the seven-year history of the tournament, Rose was the lowest-ranked player to win at No. 35 in 2010 at Aronimink. Haas, who finished at 12-under 272, entered the week 29th.
The 31-year-old won for the fifth time in his career, and this was the first one with Tiger Woods on the property — not to play, but to hand out the trophy. Woods sat out this week with an elbow injury and won’t play again until the British Open.
Perry pounces
on title
at Senior Players
PITTSBURGH — Kenny Perry won the Senior Players Championship for his first major title, overtaking Fred Couples with a final round 6-under 64.
Perry finished at 19-under 261 at Fox Chapel, two shots ahead of Couples and Duffy Waldorf. The 52-year-old Perry opened with a 71 and shot consecutive 63s in the next two rounds.
Perry was runner-up in the 1996 PGA Championship and 2009 Masters while playing as a regular on the PGA Tour. He tied for second in the Senior PGA Championship last month.
Couples closed with a 68, and Waldorf shot 64.
Casey claims
Irish Open
MAYNOOTH, Ireland — England’s Paul Casey made a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to win the Irish Open by three strokes for his 12th European Tour title.
Casey closed with a 5-under 67 to finish at 14-under 274 at Carton House. England’s Robert Rock and Dutchman Joost Luiten tied for second. Rock shot 71, and Luiten had a 74.
