MCI Classic
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island
South Carolina
16th - 19th April 1998

Par 71 Prize Money $1.9 million

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Second straight 66 gives Haas one-shot lead

Hilton Head Island, S.C. 17th April 1998 - Jay Haas' love affair with his home tournament continued today after his second consecutive 66 gave him a one-stroke lead midway through the MCI Classic.

Haas, who lives in Greenville and met his wife, Janice, here 21 years ago, chipped in for birdie on the fourth hole and followed with an eagle chip on No. 5.

"I remember when I was about 12, I chipped three in a row one time. It doesn't happen that often," said Haas, who was at 10-under 132.

Frank Lickliter was next at 9-under after his 66. Glen Day's second straight 67 put him another stroke back, and Davis Love III was three shots behind Haas after shooting a 68.

Haas has been a one-man promotional road show for the Palmetto State since settling here two decades ago. He's a paid spokesman for South Carolina, carrying its slogan "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places" on his golf bag and appearing in ads on the Golf Channel.

"The (pros) give me a lot of grief about me being the owner of the state. I say it's my state. I guess my heart is behind it," Haas said.

Now Haas is primed for his first victory since 1993 in front of a lot of friendly, cheering faces.

"I guess our drug is coming up that 18th hole and hearing the ovation, making great shots and hearing the crowd. I'd certainly like to experience that here," he said.

Haas started putting cross-handed this week, saying it gives him confidence to finish birdies he was leaving up at other times this year, including at the Masters.

"It's nice to step up to the hole and have one swing thought that worked," said Haas, who took 22 putts overall and shot 31 on his back nine.

After making a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 3, Haas tried to muscle a 5-iron over the water at the 198-yard fourth hole -- and made it by a yard. He was hoping for par when the 40-foot chip dropped.

Haas was 35 feet away in two on the next hole, a 535-yard par-5, when he bounced in a pitching wedge.

"I didn't have as many 10-to-15 foot chances that I had yesterday, but I made up for it with two chip-ins. That kind of made my day," Haas said.

Love, who won this title in 1987, 1991 and 1992, said Haas is so steady, it's hard to think he hasn't won more.

"He and Freddie (Couples) were my picks at the Masters," said Love, whose bogey on his next-to-last hole dropped him from third. "Jay's obviously on his game right now."

Lickliter hasn't battled for too many PGA Tour titles. The Franklin, Ohio, native says one of his biggest golf thrills was a double eagle in a 1989 pro-am with former Cincinnati third baseman Chris Sabo.

But after an eagle on the fifth hole and three more birdies here, he's paired with Haas and has a chance to set a new standard.

"I've been there in the final group before," Lickliter said. "When I win one of these, that will be my biggest thrill."

Day came back from a week at home to pick up where he left off on the PGA Tour. He tied for second at The Players Championship and third at the Freeport-McDermott Classic the past month and blasted into contention here with three birdies his final four holes.

"Confidence breeds good shots and good shots breed confidence," Day said. "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"

Those who did well at Augusta National continued to feel a Harbour Town letdown.

Masters winner Mark O'Meara was at 1-over after his 73. Jim Furyk, fourth last week, was 2-over, while Paul Azinger, fifth at the Masters, withdrew when he felt back pain while warming up.

Defending MCI champion Nick Price shot a 69, extending his tournament record of sub-70 rounds to nine. He was four shots back of Haas.

There were 84 golfers who survived the cut of 2-over 144, the most in the MCI's 30 years.