Bill Haas hits off the 15th fairway during the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 10, 2014, in Augusta, Ga.AUGUSTA, Ga. – Bill Haas and his brother ended their player-caddie relationship less than a month ago.
It seemed to be a surprise at the time. After all, Jay Haas Jr. handed his brother the wedge he hit out of the water to within two feet of the hole to win the FedEx Cup championship in 2011, and their family has an illustrious history in the game dating back to the 1960s.
But their days together on the course, even a course as gorgeous as Augusta National on a perfect spring day with warm temperatures and a slight breeze, are over for now.
With the assistance of veteran caddie Scott Gneiser — who was on the bag for David Toms’ 2001 PGA Championship victory — Bill Haas is in the lead after the first day of the Masters.
“I needed to switch it up,” he said. “My brother has been on the bag a bunch for a few years, and I think I needed a change. I was lucky that [Gneiser] was available the next few weeks.”