2008 5 14 Bank Of America Championship Preview - Jay Haas

[0:01]" Jail if I talked to a lot of past winners here at the Bank of America championship and asked them. Who the first winner of this event was back in the very early days which was the -- classic in 1981. They may not know you'll however no wood no problem whatsoever."

[0:18]" I sure do is my uncle Bob Colby and -- arm recall last year coming into the event the week of the tournament 98 I had him on the phone and we I was driving into the into the course here at sonic in there was his name and picture up on a big banner and I called him and I said I didn't know you won this term Eagles all -- at least or give me a rundown of some of the shots he -- and everything in. It was very special to me to win this event last year to be on that list with him and into accomplish some of that. It's any anything that he's accomplished is is impressive because he had such a great career but. That's yet that's a good trivia question in the your right thumb on one of the few that might know that."

[0:58]" He got a good PGA career you've had a great champions tour career. Compare the two in terms of we weren't you PGA career versus where you are now."

[1:08]" Well I never led the money lists and accomplished. But what I wanted to do on the PGA tour obviously a goal is to win tournaments and win major tournaments and I was able to win some events on the PGA tour but never major I contended a few times but really didn't have idea. An opportunity to blow -- so to speak you know I was I just didn't get as close as I needed to and just didn't didn't play as well as I needed to at a time but that being said I have I have a lot of successes on the PGA tour and but it's been different on the on the champions tour I feel somewhat more comfortable I guess in the role of the players that's should be in contention every week and guys are expecting me do that and I expect that leading money list was somethin' that was a goal of mine when I got kind of close a couple of years ago and Loren Roberts and I were kind of battling down the stretch and to lead the -- the -- again as some might never accomplished that was never the guy on the PGA tour. Never even close to the guy I think thirteenth his highest I ever finished. On the PGA tour money list but it's a little bit different animal out here on the champions tour era either with 278 players I think there's a little bit. The more of a comfort factor for a lot of the players kind of knowing that they don't have to make the cut so to speak and you know -- as a on the on the PGA tour you -- 156 players every week. Trying to finish trying to make a check trying to make the cut on Friday to get in position to win a tournament. It's just a different kind of pressure once -- get up to it to the top what you're trying to win the tournament I don't think it's any different when you're trying to finish when I don't come in here last year on the last few holes. I made a really nice putt on number sixteen for par 83 and half feet in his seven iron to about. Two feet on seventeen kind of sealed the deal forming. But I can tell you that right now I was as nervous as I've ever been over any shot in any time in my career on that shot on seventeen. Knowing if I didn't hit a perfect shot I was either over the green in the back bunker short degree water I was going to make 45 for sure if I did hit the shot so you know did that doesn't change once you're up there -- a lead or by the lead it it never changes no matter what what arena here in."

[3:30]" And do well there last year with the thirteen underscored a win by three and -- you mentioned a moment ago that you led the money list a couple of years in a row. And you've had success. And I'm going to ask you Christian that question. Would all the success you've had what is more important to you. The money the success the prestige. Or the fact that in 2004 you and Payne Stewart Award which goes to the tradition of golf. For the 2005 Bob Jones Award which is four distinguished sportsmanship."

[4:02]" Well I would probably go with the latter two win those two awards especially the Bob Jones Award two when I got the call on that a few years ago. In the guy said this is the highest honor that the US GA gives out. And that statement there kind of -- made the hair on my next standup just that that think the US GA event the governing body of golf it bestowing this honor on one person and to beat that person for that year and forever more it is awfully special to it to think that my peers would think enough for me to to give me this honor and the Payne Stewart Award also you know -- that the Bob Jones Award I don't think anyone around now in knew him that Weller ever played golf with the or anything like that but we all kind of new pain in in the in recent memory and -- his passion for the game and that the -- that. That it that that Award represents that -- the quote that. Promotion of the game in in representing in game and everything in in an elected by my peers is it's something that I'll never forget it that those two awards have a special place. In my in my home in in them very very -- you know people know that I'd let the money list and things like that I think I may be no more than. Then they do you know that accomplishment of leading money list. But to be Adam. You know no matter what kind of guy you are and you complete the money list but I think it it and I'm not pat myself on the back here net. Pull any muscles -- reached around and pat myself on the back but did did you know to win it is those awards is something that I was just kind of blown away by the whole situation in. -- will will never forget it."

[6:06]" And finally the defending champion here me coming back -- to defend this year in June talked me about coming back to this great golf course and I understand from -- US that there are going to be mid remembered -- it's."

[6:17]" Going to follow you all over the place they fired last year scared me to death I was turned around and didn't know they were going to do that -- But you know I was thinking about that beautiful unique trophy and I pan -- then it's it was very special week form of this course it was the first time I'd been here heard a lot of great things about it just had a good since when I got here about the golf course and about the weekend you know I kept hanging in there and temperature was playing well look like -- and -- to calm and -- two -- three birdies -- last -- kind of -- a quick stretch and I looked up and elves announced tied with team in them in a couple more and he made two bogeys two and all the sudden I'm winning the tournament and it was just. He can -- little bit like my year went last year it seemed like every coming had a chance to win -- right up there I played well some meals didn't play well. It led to four victories and you know this this was this week coming up here in a month. Hopefully -- spark a new era on the little search for me I haven't won yet this year I've played very well a lot of places I think I'm third or fourth on the money list right now and so I've done a lot of good things but I love the golf course again right from the start that first tee shot that you have to curve right to left right to give it in the fairway and the greens are small and they kind of an old feel to it and as you might imagine. We're pretty old you know these were old golfers in. I won't say that that makes a play that point were by any means these guys can really really go. But it's -- which is a great feeling great feeling to be back looking forward to to determine in the few weeks and hopefully things it'll probably talk to again next year to -- defending champion BankAmerica championship here -- a shot like thanks for joining us into the this year my pleasure"