ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC

September 4, 2024

Jay Haas

Norwood Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Jay, welcome back to St. Louis. Overall thoughts being back here this week playing in the Ascension Charity Classic.

JAY HAAS: Always a ton of fun to be here. I think about the times playing junior golf here when I was probably 13 or 14 years old, and then played in the St. Louis Open maybe in 1972 or something like that. So a lot of water under the bridge since the then.

I love being back home. I love the feel of everything here. The golf course itself, great condition this year. The fairways, I've always loved hitting off zoysia grass. I feel good about it. Seeing a lot of people, a lot of friends that I haven't seen in a while, so excited for the week.

Q. Jay, you mentioned 52 years ago that you played. Did you ever think back then you would be doing this?

JAY HAAS: No. And so back then, obviously there wasn't anything called the Senior Tour or the Champions Tour. Wasn't even an idea I don't think.

So and then of course when I was, say, 30, when it was just getting going, I would never be 50, so I didn't think even then about playing golf at 70.

But what a game that we can still do this and still compete. You know, somebody asked me the other day, do you think you can win? I say, well, maybe there is some dark corner in my mind that thinks maybe.

And I came close a couple years ago here, a few years ago. Had a chance; lost by a shot. I think that's a big part of knowing the area, knowing the course and all that. So I have to rely on that some.

No, I did not think I would still be playing competitive golf at 70, but I love the fact that we can.

Q. Your caddie and you have a long relationship. He kind of knows your game. Tell me about him.

JAY HAAS: Denny Alberts. We played high school golf together over at Belleville West. You know, we used to wake up early in the morning before school and play a few holes over at St. Clair, and then catch the bus to school.

So, you know, Denny was always a golfaholic sort of. Loved the game. We stayed in touch, and just a few years ago when I played here for the first time I said, you want to caddie? It was a nice reunion.

Then he did it again two years ago. Last year I didn't play, but he's back on the sack again. We know each other pretty well, so it's fun to have him.

Q. He knows your game better than anybody?

JAY HAAS: No, I wouldn't say that. No, we hadn't seen each other in a while. Every now and then we would talk on the phone or we would run into each other, things like that.

He has been teaching golf now for a long time so he knows the game somewhat, but I wouldn't say anybody really knows my game other than me. I don't rely on the caddie that much to tell you the truth. I had a caddie for better part of 25 years and I bet I didn't have him lineup four putts for me in that length of time.

I think that I believe, and I guess this maybe sounds boastful, but I'm the expert. You know, when I'm over the ball I know what I want to do with it. My caddie doesn't know. I don't care who he is. It's just my thought. I know what I want to do with it.

But that being said, it's comfortable having him on the bag. Somebody I know is always a good thing.

Q. So you shake hands with Hale there, Mt. Rushmore of golf with you, Hale, of course your uncle, Bob Goalby. How about Hale's impact?

JAY HAAS: Well, you can't say enough about his impact in the game certainly in this area. He's always someone -- Bob told me this is somebody you need to look up to, you need to emulate yourself with him, to him, on and off the golf course.

And I think that was how we were taught about etiquette of the game and everything. There is somebody you need to act like. That's a pro right there.

And Hale and I, we probably become closer in the last ten or fifteen years. You know, I'm one of the guys closer in age to him that is still playing, so we still text and see each other at Hawai'i a little bit. The wives get along.

It's just a lot of fun. Hale is maybe the most competitive person I've ever been around, and I love that about him.

When you play with Hale, it was always you knew what you were going to get. He didn't give a rip about what you were doing, you know. He was into his game.

And that's the way it should be, you know. He would say, good shot and all that, but, no, I admired him from a long time ago. Good to see him here.

Q. You just spoke about caddies. You had a little role reversal in the middle of this year where you took that job for a week with Bill in Myrtle Beach.

JAY HAAS: Right.

Q. What was that like?

JAY HAAS: That was pretty terrific. To see him going into the family business, so to speak, is very cool for me.

To be able to still do it. Missed by a shot, missed the cut by a shot, so I didn't feel like I helped him. But, again, I don't care who your caddie is, the player has to do it. It's just fun to see up close and everything and see how good the young players are today. That's a ton of fun for me.

You see it on TV and everything, but until you see it close up you can't hardly appreciate how far they hit it, how strong her, how talented, everything about it.

Yeah, being with Bill, I'm a terrible spectator. I got clothes-lined several times at Augusta a few years ago when I was following him. I would be marching along because that's where I always went, through the ropes, and somebody would stop me and knock me down just about.

But it's a lot more fun being close up like that.

Q. What are your spots here around town to eat at when you come back?

JAY HAAS: You know, we went to the Capital Grille a couple nights ago, and 801 Fish maybe last night. Wonderful, wonderful spot there.

Going over to St. Clair tonight. They're dedicating the Goalby Grille at the club that Uncle Bob grew up playing and I grew up playing.

And then gosh, Furtados maybe?

Q. Farotto's?

JAY HAAS: Maybe. I think that's Friday night with Hale and Sally and the Stups, John and Julie Stup. We're going there. Maybe that's not right. I better check.

But I mean, the meals we've had so far have been fantastic. I remind those first two.

Q. This week the fans are getting complementary ice cream from Compliance Solutions. What's your message to the fans to come out Thursday to Sunday?

JAY HAAS: Well, who doesn't like ice cream? Chocolate is my preference. You know, this is a great spot to come. Going to be an unbelievable weekend. Looks like it'll be in the '70s. A little unusual for this time of the year; usually in the dog days.

But it should be wonderful, so come on out and check these guys out.