I always wonder about people like Fred Haas.
His titular accomplishment– the headline of his obituary– was achieved 58 years ago. He lived 58 years after the apogee of his career. I wonder what he thought about that. Moreover, his accomplishment was less about his excellence– though it was a PGA Tour victory, nothing to sneeze at– than it was about stopping someone else’s transcendent excellence.
One thing I know: there are many more Fred Hass’s out there than there are Byron Nelsons.
–DXO
Fred Haas, man who ended Nelson’s streak, dies
(01-27) 17:39 PST PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) —
Fred Haas, whose five PGA Tour victories included one that stopped Byron Nelson’s record winning streak, died Monday in Louisiana. He was 88.
Haas didn’t join the tour until 1946, but he had already become a footnote in history. As an amateur, he won the 1945 Memphis Open to end Nelson’s winning streak at 11 tournaments.
Haas won as a professional for the first time in the 1948 Portland Open, and added the 1949 Miami Open and the 1950 Long Beach Open. His last victory was the 1954 Thunderbird Invitational.
Haas never won on the Champions Tour, and last played at the 1999 PGA Seniors Championship, where he missed the cut.
The tour said his funeral would be in Metairie, La.