ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC

September 6, 2024

Jay Haas

Norwood Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Jay, I'm going to start with this: I don't think you're old, but this is your 20th time shooting your age or better on the PGA TOUR Champions. Overall thoughts on that accomplishment.

JAY HAAS: Wow. Kevin asked me how many times have I done it. I said, I don't know, not that many. I said ten. It's good to be underneath that number.

No, I played solid. Been playing very well since the Senior Open at Newport and even at home, hitting the ball well.

So I was confident coming in here. And love this golf course. Love hitting off the grass here, as I've said many times. It was a solid day today, so anxious to get out here again tomorrow.

Q. Jay, what's it like to do this in front of your home crowd?

JAY HAAS: Well, had quite a few "atta boys" from Belleville and things like that, so it's nice to hear that. Nice to hear, "go get 'em, Jay," "hometown boy," all that different stuff.

It's fun to be playing at home. Fun to be playing well at home. Sometimes you want to hide if you're not playing well, but it was a good day today.

I thought the crowds were really good. I think they're going to be spectacular on the weekend with the better weather. Hopefully give them something to cheer for.

Q. Do you remember some of those holes when you said you were really young playing and stuff?

JAY HAAS: Yeah, 2 and 3 is now just No. 2. It was a par-3 and par-4 and now it's a par-5.

15 and 16 are brand new holes.

17 is par-3 kind of out of the woods.

So I vaguely remember those holes.

The hills, I don't think I remember the hills so much because I was 18 years old so they didn't bother me so much.

Q. Jay, this has been popular with the golfers that have come here. They've enjoyed the experience. What would it mean to you as local to keep this going? I know we're waiting on some news. What would it mean for this to continue?

JAY HAAS: The world. I'm sorry that I'm 70 years old and not 50 and can really look forward to 20 years or more here.

St. Louis has been a great golf town I think. We haven't had much in the way of consistent events. I don't know if it's called the St. Louis Open or Childrens Hospital Classic, whatever it was, it didn't last that long.

But we've had great crowds for the PGA, the U.S. Senior Open, the Senior PGA. So the people love the golf.

You're looking at I don't know how many Hall of Famers are in the field this week, but pretty damn good viewing for the spectators to see these guys who can still really play.

Hopefully it will continue, and I would love to come back as long as I'm competitive. Maybe that was a couple years ago. But it's great to see. Again, wonderful.

Q. Looking forward to playing in the 70s tomorrow and the next day?

JAY HAAS: You know, when it's a hot day people say, it hot enough for you? I don't care where we are. I always say, not yet. I love playing in the heat and feeling loose and all that, sweat.

That's what I grew up playing in. Does not bother me one bit.