Haas Beats Kite In Playoff To Win Legends Again

Sunday, April 22nd 2007, 4:08 pm

By: News On 6

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) _ Defending champion Jay Haas won the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on Sunday, making up four shots in the final eight holes before beating Tom Kite in a playoff for his second Champions Tour victory this season.

``I certainly didn't think I'd be here,'' Haas said. ``Everything just happened so quickly.''

He closed with a 2-under-par 70 for a three-round total of 207, then won on the first extra hole for his eighth senior circuit victory. Kite (68) had been 3-0 in senior playoffs.

There was a four-way tie for third at 208 at The Club at Savannah Harbor, an island layout in the Savannah River: Wayne Levi (70), Brad Bryant (70), Gil Morgan (67) and Mark James (70), the first-round leader.

Haas has nine wins on the PGA Tour and eight on the Champions Tour. This was the first time he successfully defended a championship.

``My game has aged well,'' Haas said. ``My ball-striking has been consistent. But I'm a lot better putter than I used to be. I kind of wish I'd changed my putting style when I was younger.''

It was only the fourth playoff in the 30-year history of the Legends event and first since the team of Dale Douglas and Charles Coody defeated Hugh Baiocchi and David Graham in 1998 at the Golf Club of Amelia Island in Florida.

The Legends, which spawned the Champions Tour, was played as a team event until moving to Savannah in 2003.

In the playoff, Haas and Kite drove into the fairway on No. 18, but Haas' ball landed in a soft spot and picked up a chunk of mud. Haas hit his second shot through the green. Kite, meanwhile, was on the par-4 in two but 56 feet from the pin.

Haas chipped within 3 feet, then Kite rolled his first putt within 5 feet of the cup, but his next putt spun out for bogey. Haas tapped in for the victory.

``I had two good putts on 18 in the playoff,'' Kite said. ``But I had one little misread there at the end.''

James and Levi appeared to have a shot at making the playoff, but both stumbled. James three-putted the final two holes. Levi needed a sand save on the last hole, but his putt for par spun out.

``There was any number of guys that could have won,'' Kite said. ``Everybody kind of gave up a few opportunities coming down the stretch, and those holes are hard.''

Divots: Nick Price just missed tying the tournament course record when his birdie putt lipped out at No. 18. He settled for 65 and a 209 total. ... Tom Purtzer's string of 31 straight rounds of par or better ended when he shot 75 for 214.