EDMOND, Okla. -- Two years ago in his Champions Tour debut, Jay Haas missed a putt on the 72nd hole of the Senior PGA Championship that, as it turned out, would have forced a playoff with Hale Irwin.

Haas thought about that putt again on Sunday at Oak Tree Golf Club as he stared at a 12-footer for par on the third hole of his playoff with Brad Bryant. He wasn't about to squander another chance to win his first major championship.

"I said (at the time), hopefully, if I get another chance with a putt like that, I'll do better," Haas recalled. "So I kind of had a moment of talking to myself over that last putt, saying, you know, go down like a man here. You've been putting well all week and you've been putting well for a nice stretch here. Just trust it, keep your head steady, hit the putt."

Haas did, and the ball curved into the right side of the hole. Minutes later, when Bryant's own 4-footer refused to fall, Haas had won the 2006 Senior PGA Championship -- in what was his 90th major championship start.

"I tried my darndest to win a major on the PGA TOUR -- the PGA, the Masters, U. S. Open, British Open -- but it didn't happen," Haas said. "But this is, I won't even say it's the next best thing, this is just like one of them to me.

"You know, it had a major championship feel, the crowds were unbelievable this week. To do it like I did it, to make birdie on the last hole, to get to the playoff, and then make a nice putt, (is really special)."

The 52-year-old Haas isn't one to dwell on the what-might-have-beens. When NBC announcer Jimmy Roberts asked him how it felt to finally win after so many chances, though, Haas realized the significance of his accomplishment.

"I guess I don't think too much about the past about what I haven't done," Haas said. "But it kind of hit me there. On TV, I wanted to say, 'We did it, Jan.' But I couldn't get it out. I was getting ready to tear up, so it was a pretty emotional time for me."

By the time he came into the interview area, Haas had already spoken to his wife, who, in turn, had talked with all five of their children. Their son, Bill, a PGA TOUR rookie, had found a TV in the airport in Nashville, where he had been visiting his sister after missing the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

"I'm sure we'll have some nice conversations this evening," Haas said. "That's who I play for -- Jan and the kids -- and obviously for me, and the joy and excitement of being in the hunt and all that stuff. But it's such a thrill to be successful for them and to share that with my family."

The victory was Haas' third straight on the Champions Tour, matching Loren Roberts' victory streak earlier this season, and giving him a chance to become only the second player in history to win four straight. He'll play in the Memorial Tournament with Bill next week, though, and then try to qualify for the U.S. Open next Monday.

Haas, a nine-time winner on the PGA TOUR, now leads the Champions Tour money list and stands first in the Charles Schwab Cup. He plans to play nine or 10 more events on the Champions Tour.

"I'd like to play this string out," Haas said.

Haas' victory was a popular one among his peers. Tom Purtzer came out of the clubhouse to shake his hand as Haas, who closed with a 68, waited to see whether there would be a playoff. Playing partner Peter Jacobsen stayed with him at the scorer's table until Bryant's tying birdie on the 72nd hole rolled in the cup.

Even Bryant, who led Haas by six strokes after two holes Sunday only to see him birdie five straight holes, was generous in his praise.

"It's good to have a major player win a major championship," Bryant, who has two Champions Tour victories already this season, said. "Not that I wouldn't have been a great champion. But Jay's been such a great player for so long, he deserves a major. He deserves a major, quite honestly, more than I do.

"I'm glad he won. He's a tremendous man."

Haas and his long-time friend, Curtis Strange, stayed at Bob Tway's house during the Senior PGA Championship. Tway gave both of them tips on how to play the course during a practice round on Tuesday. He cooked them dinner each night, and then the three sat around watching the tournament that Tway had recorded with his TiVo.

"I heard Johnny Miller say on TV yesterday that he's the best player on the (Champions Tour), and without a doubt I think that's true," Strange said. "Hale, obviously, is not at the top of his game right now. Hale is the king out here. But Jay is right now the best player out here.

"He's oozing with confidence, and rightfully so. He's playing so well and he's putting so well. He's just hitting on all cylinders right now."

Jay Haas (right) defeated Brad Bryant on the third playoff hole on Sunday. (Getty Images)

As if he needed an added boost, Haas admitted he drew even more confidence from watching those tapes each night.

"I really liked the way I was swinging," he said. "It looked like I was in control. I hit a lot of good shots yesterday on TV and Johnny Miller was very complimentary to me. He said that my stroke was mesmerizing. And I kept saying that to myself, boy, if Johnny thinks my stroke is mesmerizing, it must be good.

"But I just felt confident. Again, I've been playing well, I hit a lot of good shots. But I've had to be, would have had to have beaten a lot of good players in the past. And I don't know, I guess I didn't think I could do it as much as I do now."

When someone called Sunday's twists and turns dramatic, Bryant couldn't argue. He suggested "excruciating" could be used as another adjective, then added "there were a couple of holes that were even fun."

Haas had to agree.

"There were moments today where I thought I would be at the airport already by now and then there were some moments where I was felt like I had everything under control," he said. "And then some moments again I was in the car mad about missing whatever.

"So to be here right now is unbelievably special."