Tour Championship 2011: Bill Haas Wins Tournament And 2011 FedEx Cup

We interrupt your regularly scheduled football to show you a man hitting a golf ball out of a lake to win eight figures in American currency. Bill Haas had only won two PGA Tour events in his life until today, losing a couple tournaments in playoffs in 2011, but this time things went his way. He won the 2011 Tour Championship to take the 2011 FedEx Cup, defeating Hunter Mahan and winning $11.44 million in the process. He did so by hitting a shot out of a lake. Video after the jump.

When Mahan hit the green and Haas hit the water on the second playoff hole, most figured that the tournament was over and Mahan was about to take home a massive eight figure prize. Instead, Haas hit such a good chip shot out of the lake and up the hill that he was left with a considerably easier par put than Mahan. Both players made par, then Haas took victory on the third playoff hole.

Hunter Mahan and Aaron Baddley have taken over first place of the Tour Championship, shooting 64 and 66, respectively, in the third round Saturday. Mahan’s short game was clutch, as he birdied a 23-foot putt on his final hole to claim his share of first place.

Jason Day and K.J. Choi are tied for third place just two strokes back. Bill Haas was in first earlier in the day, but he bogeyed on 17 and finished the day tied with Luke Donald for fifth place, three strokes back.

The 30 remaining PGA Tour players in the hunt for the FedEx Cup sit just 36 holes away from a massive $10 million dollar prize as The Tour Championship heads into the weekend at East Lake Golf Club. As it stands now, Adam Scott sits atop the leaderboard at 8-under, and would win the FedEx Cup if the results hold. But Scott leads by the slimmest of margins, with a hungry field nipping at his heels.

K.J. Choi will be paired with Scott in Saturday’s final group, sitting one shot off the pace and well within striking distance. Jason Day and Luke Donald are two shots back at 6-under for the tournament, playing in the second-to-last group on Saturday.

Midway through play Friday, K.J. Choi leads the 2011 Tour Championship, with several other big names hot on his tail. Here’s a look.

K.J. Choi, -6 through 10

Aaron Baddeley, -5 through 9

Jason Day, -5 through 8

Luke Donald, -5 through 7

Hunter Mahan, -4 through 8

Keegan Bradley, -4 through 6

Bubba Watson, -3 through 14

Fredrik Jacobson, -3 through 13

Geoff Ogilvy, -3 through 12

Bill Hass, -3 through 9

Matt Kuchar, -3 through 9

Adam Scott, -3 through 8

Charles Howell III, -3 through 8